Senior Mechanisms Engineer, Spaceflight Payloads

Varda Space; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 182,000 - 232,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term cash awards

Job summary

Varda Space in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Principal Mechanisms Engineer on the Payload team to define and lead development of electromechanical flight hardware for in-orbit operations, hypersonic reentry, and Earth return. You will shape payload architecture across pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic testbeds, guiding systems from concept to design, integration, testing, launch, and recovery.

You will collaborate with leadership and external partners, translating mission needs into

Qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field.
• 7+ years designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware.
• Deep mechanical expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.).
• Track record leading teams through full cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development.
• Experience communicating with diverse technical and executive audiences, both internal and external.

Responsibilities

• Define architecture, requirements, and development plans for multi-payload or multi-mission systems.
• Lead complex mechanism and electromechanical subsystem design efforts.
• Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction using a variety of tools (hand calcs, python/matlab models, FEA, etc.).
• Lead cross-functional project teams across avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration.
• Represent Varda to senior internal leadership and external partners.
• Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation.
• Lead build, integration, testing, mission operations, recovery, and anomaly resolution.
• Guide lessons-learned processes and influence payload development cycles.
• Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices.

Skills

Electromechanical hardware

Cross-disciplinary breadth

Technical communication

Project leadership

Education

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

Tools

Python/Matlab modelling

Job description

Varda Space in El Segundo, CA is seeking a Principal Mechanisms Engineer on the Payload team to define and lead development of electromechanical flight hardware for in-orbit operations, hypersonic reentry, and Earth return. You will shape payload architecture across pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic testbeds, guiding systems from concept to design, integration, testing, launch, and recovery.

You will collaborate with leadership and external partners, translating mission needs into