Senior Space Hardware Reliability Engineer — On Orbit

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) with employer match

Relocation assistance

Wellness reimbursement

Company events

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Senior Hardware Build Reliability Engineer to partner with design and manufacturing to scale spacecraft hardware production. The role focuses on building reliability into processes and supporting quality, flight reliability, and mission assurance.

The ideal candidate has a strong hands-on background in hardware test, qualification, and failure analysis, with 5+ years in aerospace engineering and a lean quality mindset.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or materials engineering.
• 5+ years in aerospace, design, quality, or related engineering role.
• Hands-on hardware test, qualification, troubleshooting, or failure analysis experience.
• Commitment to lean quality principles without compromising safety or reliability.
• Data analysis for production insight.

Responsibilities

• Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams to create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for all vehicle hardware.
• Contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers.
• Lead failure investigations in production, test, and operation; identifying and mitigating immediate and underlying root causes to reduce risk and improve the reliability of designs and processes.
• Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
• Perform failure modes and effects analyses, build requirements compliance matrix tools, and ensure adequate test coverage, change management, and manufacturability of flight hardware.
• Own vehicle level deliverables for regulatory bodies including requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence.
• Support Mission Assurance's vehicle level risk management and identification/tracking/execution of mitigations.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

5+ years experience

Hardware testing

Lean quality principles

Data analysis

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace, CS, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or materials

Tools

CNC machining

Additive manufacturing

Quality tools (APQP, PFMEA, SPC)

Job description

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Senior Hardware Build Reliability Engineer to partner with design and manufacturing to scale spacecraft hardware production. The role focuses on building reliability into processes and supporting quality, flight reliability, and mission assurance.

The ideal candidate has a strong hands-on background in hardware test, qualification, and failure analysis, with 5+ years in aerospace engineering and a lean quality mindset.