Senior Ground Test Systems Engineer, Automation

Telemetry Today LLC; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Senior Terrestrial Mechanical Design & Test Engineer, Automation, to build and own ground test infrastructure for space hardware qualification and production. You will integrate mechanical, electrical, fluid, and instrumentation systems into cohesive test platforms and ensure high uptime across all test assets.

You will work closely with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams, and you will be responsible for end-to-end system delivery, from concept

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
• 5+ years of mechanical design or industrial automation experience.
• Proficient with SolidWorks or NX CAD.
• Experience wiring cabinets, PLCs, harnesses, connectors.
• Experience with Altium or schematic design; migrating to EPLAN.
• Hands-on with high-pressure gas/fluid systems.
• Environmental test experience: TVAC, thermal cycling, vibration.
• Experience developing propulsion test stands or complex test infrastructure.
• Hands-on with EtherCAT, Modbus, RS-232/485 communications.
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 (IEC 61131-3) or willingness to learn.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and GSE for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing.
• Ensure test infrastructure uptime & performance (>99%).
• Serve as Responsible Engineer for test infrastructure (centrifuges, TVACs, test stands).
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design to commissioning.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams on timelines.
• Modify and extend Varda's PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling as needed.
• Advocate for sustainable engineering and enable rapid ramp-up for new engineers.

Skills

5+ years experience in mechanical

Industrial automation

EtherCAT

Modbus

RS-232/485

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

Leadership in startup

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

NX CAD

Altium

EPLAN

Job description

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Senior Terrestrial Mechanical Design & Test Engineer, Automation, to build and own ground test infrastructure for space hardware qualification and production. You will integrate mechanical, electrical, fluid, and instrumentation systems into cohesive test platforms and ensure high uptime across all test assets.

You will work closely with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams, and you will be responsible for end-to-end system delivery, from concept