Senior Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer – Spacecraft

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 182,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term cash awards

Job summary

Varda Space Industries seeks a Principal Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer in El Segundo, CA to scale production from bespoke vehicles to high-volume builds. You will own propulsion system processes, including valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration, collaborating with design and supply chain.

This role focuses on incremental improvements, cleanliness protocols, RCCA for non-conformances, tooling and test equipment planning, and cadence alignment

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related discipline; typically 6–10+ years experience
• 6+ years of manufacturing experience with propulsion systems, fluid systems, or high-pressure hardware
• Hands-on tube fabrication, bending, tube fitting installation, and high-pressure fluid system assembly
• Familiarity with propulsion system cleanliness requirements, verification methods, and contamination control procedures
• Experience reading engineering drawings, P&IDs, and assembly models for fluid systems
• Strong first principles problem-solving capability; diagnose propulsion build defects and drive corrective action
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end manufacturing processes for propulsion system production: valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration
• Develop and maintain work instructions, process traveler documents, and process specifications for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware
• Provide technical direction to improve propulsion build processes and drive increased vehicle production cadence
• Implement and enforce propulsion-specific cleanliness protocols, contamination control procedures, and propellant compatibility requirements
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions (RCCA) for propulsion non-conformances, including leak events, contamination findings, and assembly defects
• Define tooling and test equipment requirements for tube shop operations, leak checks, and propulsion acceptance testing
• Collaborate with design engineers and supply chain to prevent schedule delays and resolve incoming hardware quality issues
• Refine propulsion work cell layouts and product flow to support cadence increase and concurrent vehicle builds

Skills

Propulsion systems

Manufacturing

Root cause analysis

Education

B.S. in Mechanical/Manufacturing or related

M.S. in Mechanical Eng. specialized in Fluid Mechanics

Job description

Varda Space Industries seeks a Principal Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer in El Segundo, CA to scale production from bespoke vehicles to high-volume builds. You will own propulsion system processes, including valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration, collaborating with design and supply chain.

This role focuses on incremental improvements, cleanliness protocols, RCCA for non-conformances, tooling and test equipment planning, and cadence alignment