Senior Manager, Vehicle Systems Integration & Test

Varda Space; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 246,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space is seeking a leader for the Vehicle Systems, Integration, & Test team in El Segundo. You will guide multi-disciplinary engineering efforts to ensure vehicle readiness for launch and operations, while shaping processes and playbooks for robust, evolving spacecraft.

The role emphasizes mentoring, roadmap ownership, and hands-on testing, with a focus on cross-disciplinary knowledge across structures, electronics, propulsion, and software.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test engineering.
• Experience mentoring team members and providing feedback to support growth.
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment.
• Proven experience on complex technical programs, preferably aerospace or related industries.
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (structures, electronics, propulsion, software).
• Technical depth in electronics, propulsion, and/or systems engineering.
• Familiarity with project management of the full lifecycle is a plus.
• Experience with C++ and Python is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and manage a team of engineers, including hiring and performance management.
• Own engineering development roadmap to sustain increasing flight cadence.
• Lead team to develop vehicle integration and test campaigns to ensure flight readiness.
• Manage the technical outcome and milestone schedule to enable the delivery of vehicles on schedule.
• Develop frameworks to evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of vehicle-level change implementation.
• Stay hands-on with vehicle integration and test – get out on the floor and execute with the team when necessary.

Skills

Mentoring

Teamwork

Communication

Problem solving

Aerospace experience

First principles thinking

Electronics depth

Propulsion knowledge

Software breadth

C++

Python

Education

B.S. in Engineering/Physics

Tools

Unigraphics NX

Job description

Varda Space is seeking a leader for the Vehicle Systems, Integration, & Test team in El Segundo. You will guide multi-disciplinary engineering efforts to ensure vehicle readiness for launch and operations, while shaping processes and playbooks for robust, evolving spacecraft.

The role emphasizes mentoring, roadmap ownership, and hands-on testing, with a focus on cross-disciplinary knowledge across structures, electronics, propulsion, and software.