Senior Mechanisms Engineer – Space Payloads (Stock Options)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term cash awards

Job summary

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Senior Mechanisms Engineer to develop electromechanical flight hardware for in-orbit operations and reentry tests. You will own multi-payload missions from concept to recovery, collaborating with avionics, software, and systems teams to deliver hardware on fast development cycles.

You will lead mechanical design, thermal/fluid interfaces, and analyses, build and test flight hardware, and mentor junior engineers as part of a dynamic Payload team driving rapid

Qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 4+ years 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.

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

Skills

Mechanical design

Electromechanical hardware

Cross-discipline communication

Education

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

Tools

Python

MATLAB

FEA software

Job description

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Senior Mechanisms Engineer to develop electromechanical flight hardware for in-orbit operations and reentry tests. You will own multi-payload missions from concept to recovery, collaborating with avionics, software, and systems teams to deliver hardware on fast development cycles.

You will lead mechanical design, thermal/fluid interfaces, and analyses, build and test flight hardware, and mentor junior engineers as part of a dynamic Payload team driving rapid