Senior Payload I&T Engineer - Equity Options

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO

100% medical, dental, vision insurance

Wellness reimbursement

Relocation support

401(k) with company match

One Medical memberships

EV charging at workplace

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is hiring a Senior Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer to own end-to-end success for a diverse payload portfolio.

You will define interfaces, plan and execute integration campaigns, coordinate in-orbit operations, and ensure safe data and hardware recovery. You will bridge payloads with the Varda vehicle, scoping changes with the vehicle team and delivering robust verification across multiple environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, or Systems Engineering.
• 5+ years of experience integrating and testing spacecraft, payloads, or comparable electro-mechanical hardware.
• Experience as the named responsible engineer for at least one payload through a full program cycle, including flight or end use.
• Experience developing and managing ICDs, requirements, and verification/validation plans.
• Ability to manage multiple hardware efforts against fixed milestones.
• Broad knowledge in structures, thermal, electronics, embedded software, optics, RF, GNC, comms, or fluids.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Hands-on in a cleanroom with flight hardware; lift 25 lbs; bend, stoop, stand.

Responsibilities

• Act as responsible engineer for assigned payloads from scoping through post-flight data delivery.
• Collaborate with payload providers to define mission objectives and interfaces.
• Formulate executable project plans and scope non-standard accommodations.
• Serve as primary technical contact for external payload customers during the mission lifecycle.
• Plan and execute payload-level integration and test activities, including inspections and environmental tests.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues arising during integration and test.
• Define payload flight operations, command sequences, and procedures with missionOps.
• Advance standard payload interfaces and integration workflows in the Payload User Guide.
• Mentor junior engineers and review teammates' work.

Skills

Payload integration

Systems engineering

Project planning

Technical leadership

Clear communication

Hands-on hardware

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, or Systems Engineering

Tools

Interface Control Documents (ICDs)

Job description

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is hiring a Senior Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer to own end-to-end success for a diverse payload portfolio.

You will define interfaces, plan and execute integration campaigns, coordinate in-orbit operations, and ensure safe data and hardware recovery. You will bridge payloads with the Varda vehicle, scoping changes with the vehicle team and delivering robust verification across multiple environments.