Senior Propulsion Engineer — Satellite Bus Hardware

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible PTO policy

Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance

Relocation support

Stock options

Job summary

Varda Space Industries, Inc. in El Segundo, CA is hiring a Senior Propulsion Engineer – Hardware & Bus Systems to own the propulsion hardware across the satellite buses. You will architect propulsion solutions, size components, develop software tools, and guide tests on ground and in orbit.

You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, drive system-level analyses, and raise the technical bar while mentoring junior engineers to ensure reliable propulsion for future vehicles.

Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering or related field; 3–6+ years experience.
• 3+ years hands-on propulsion or fluid systems design, build, test for spacecraft/launch vehicles.
• Knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, instrumentation.
• Ability to read and author P&IDs.
• CAD tools proficiency and PLM software experience.
• Experience with ground test or flight campaigns and console operations.
• Proven ability to drive anomaly investigations and cross‑functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Maintain propulsion system baseline docs and P&IDs.
• Design, analyze, test satellite bus propulsion hardware and components.
• Identify upgrades for propulsion systems on operational vehicles.
• Define high level propulsion architecture for future vehicles; develop roadmaps.
• Generate propulsion performance analyses and share with cross‑discipline teams.
• Build Python scripts and spreadsheets to automate analysis and data workflows.
• Perform mechanical design and FEA for propulsion hardware; document specs.
• Support in-flight propulsion operations and disposition of hardware nonconformances.
• Mentor junior engineers and review technical deliverables.

Skills

Propulsion systems design

P&IDs

CAD tools

Python scripting

FEA ANSYS/NASTRAN

Technical leadership

Anomaly investigations

GNC integration

Education

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

CATIA

SolidWorks

NX

PLM software

GFSSP/REFPROP

Job description

Varda Space Industries, Inc. in El Segundo, CA is hiring a Senior Propulsion Engineer – Hardware & Bus Systems to own the propulsion hardware across the satellite buses. You will architect propulsion solutions, size components, develop software tools, and guide tests on ground and in orbit.

You will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, drive system-level analyses, and raise the technical bar while mentoring junior engineers to ensure reliable propulsion for future vehicles.