Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO policy +12 paid holidays

100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match

Daily lunch and weekly dinner provided

Dog-friendly office

Job summary

Vardaspace in El Segundo, California is looking for a Senior Mechanisms Engineer to develop and oversee electromechanical flight hardware for both pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry missions. This role offers a unique opportunity to work collaboratively on multi-payload missions while applying strong mechanical expertise to drive hardware from concept to deployment.

Join a dynamic team that not only builds technologies but also contributes to the future of space manufacturing and infrastructure development. Candidates with a strong background in mechanical or aerospace engineering and experience in rigorous environments are especially encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware.
• Strong mechanical expertise with breadth in adjacent disciplines.
• Experience delivering hardware into rigorous environments.

Responsibilities

• Own multi-payload missions from concept to recovery.
• Lead the design of mechanisms, structures, and assemblies.
• Mentor entry-level engineers and interns.

Skills

Electromechanical design

Cross-discipline communication

Structural analysis

Thermal analysis

Education

BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

Job description

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life‑saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About this Role

As a Senior Mechanisms Engineer on Varda’s Payload team, you will develop electromechanical flight hardware that operates in orbit, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for inspection and iteration. You will own multi‑payload missions across both pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbed missions—driving hardware from concept through design, analysis, build, test, launch, and recovery.

You’ll collaborate closely with internal specialists and external partners, translate high‑level mission objectives into system designs and analyses, and perform hands‑on integration and testing to deliver hardware that flies in months, not years. This role is ideal for engineers who pair strong mechanical expertise with the breadth to drive cross‑functional efforts and the desire to deliver complex hardware on fast development cycles.

Responsibilities

• Own multi‑payload missions from concept through design, integration, launch, reentry, and recovery
• Lead the design of mechanisms, structures, thermal/fluid interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies
• Independently perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (hand calcs, python/matlab models, and FEA as needed)
• Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware
• Coordinate cross‑functional inputs (avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration)
• Serve as primary technical interface for multi‑payload missions or complex payload development
• Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation
• Lead mission operations and post‑flight teardown
• Lead incorporation of lessons learned and continuous improvement
• Mentor entry‑level engineers and interns

Basic Qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field
• 4+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
• Strong mechanical expertise with breadth in at least one adjacent discipline (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.)
• Experience delivering hardware into rigorous environments (aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, etc.)
• Ability to independently define tasks, manage schedules, and deliver integrated hardware
• Excellent cross‑discipline communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior full cycle ownership of space flight hardware
• Experience integrating electromechanical actuators, sensors, thermal control hardware and/or fluid control hardware
• Experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
• Customer‑facing technical communication experience
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance

Pay Range

• Salary range: $140,000 – $180,000 per year
• This role is on‑site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job‑related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long‑term cash awards

Benefits

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy +12 paid holidays
• 100% company‑paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer‑matched HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start‑up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
• Company and team‑bonding events, happy hours, and mission‑success celebrations
• Complimentary EV charging
• Dog‑friendly office space

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export‑controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“U.S. person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E‑Verify program. The E‑Verify program is an Internet‑based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.