Senior Ground Support Engineer: Python & Beckhoff for Space

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Relocation support

Fully stocked kitchen

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking an Automation and Controls Engineer to design, build, and own test infrastructure for spaceflight hardware. You will work on GSE, propulsion test stands, environmental chambers, and integration testing, shaping real-time control strategies and end-to-end system ownership.

You will collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to meet tight schedules while advancing a modern PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over EtherCAT, Modbus, RS-232/485 or similar protocols.
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 and IEC 61131-3 structured text.
• Comfort designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, and debugging hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Integrate with external hardware including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, and pressure systems.
• Develop and extend Varda's PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to meet evolving program needs.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementations (TwinCAT 3 vs Linux).
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure on aggressive timelines.
• Champion sustainable engineering practices to ramp new engineers on the tech stack.

Skills

Industrial hardware integration

EtherCAT Modbus RS-232/485

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

Full-stack control software

Startup environment adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

EtherCAT tooling

Job description

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking an Automation and Controls Engineer to design, build, and own test infrastructure for spaceflight hardware. You will work on GSE, propulsion test stands, environmental chambers, and integration testing, shaping real-time control strategies and end-to-end system ownership.

You will collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to meet tight schedules while advancing a modern PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling.