Senior Spacecraft Mission Software Engineer

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 216,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) with match

Relocation assistance

Wellness stipend

Job summary

Varda Space Industries is seeking a Senior Spacecraft Mission Software Engineer to own the ground segment software and the platform it runs on for spacecraft operations.

You will work hands-on with flight software, avionics, RF/ground systems, and mission ops, building reliable telemetry, commanding, and data-distribution services for real-time aerospace environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
• 5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
• Expertise with development in Python, along with a strong understanding of the language concepts.
• Strong systems fundamentals: concurrency, networking, performance, reliability.
• Experience building real-time data acquisition, scaling, and distribution services - low-latency messaging, time-series and relational stores.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD, dependency/build systems, and infrastructure-as-code.
• End-to-end observability experience: logging, metrics, tracing.
• Docker/Kubernetes; release management, phased rollouts, and operational readiness for controlled networks.

Responsibilities

• Own Ground Segment Services: Develop and maintain high-reliability services for telemetry ingestion, scaling, distribution, and commanding.
• Mission Control Interfaces: Deliver operator-grade UIs and dashboards that optimize ops time and reduce cognitive load across phases.
• Simulation and Test Automation: Build tools to run flight-software simulations, device emulators, and scenario-based automated tests.
• Build the Mission Platform: Design, implement, and productionize software for mission and ground software teams; standardize CI/CD pipelines, artifact management, service templates, IaC, simulation and HIL frameworks.
• Deployments Across Environments: Create robust deployment patterns for lab benches, test stands, and mission networks with safe rollout/rollback strategies.

Skills

Python

C++

Docker

Kubernetes

CI/CD

Real-time systems

Networking

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

About This Role

The Senior Spacecraft Mission Software Engineer is responsible for Varda's critical ground segment software, and the platform it runs on which enables spacecraft operations. We operate at the intersection of telemetry and commanding, data acquisition and distribution, mission control interfaces, simulation and test automation, with reliable deployment across lab, test range, and mission operations environments. You'll work hands-on with flight software, avionics, RF/ground systems, and mission ops.

Responsibilities

• Own Ground Segment Services: Develop and maintain high-reliability services for telemetry ingestion, scaling, distribution, and commanding. Ensure deterministic behavior for real-time operations and post-flight analysis.


• Mission Control Interfaces: Deliver operator-grade UIs and dashboards that optimize "ops time" and reduce cognitive load across integration, test, and on-orbit operations phases.


• Simulation and Test Automation: Build tools to run flight-software simulations, device emulators, and scenario-based automated tests - enabling fast, safe iteration for avionics, GNC, and operations teams.


• Build the Mission Platform: Design, implement, and productionize software for mission and ground software teams. Standardize CI/CD pipelines, artifact management, service templates, infrastructure-as-code, simulation and hardware-in-the-loop frameworks, test harnesses, and observability - all delivered as self-service tooling.


• Deployments Across Environments: Create robust deployment patterns for lab benches, test stands, and mission networks. Implement safe rollout/rollback strategies and air-gapped or limited-connectivity deployment approaches.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.


• 5+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.


• Expertise with development in Python, along with a strong understanding of the language concepts.


• Have strong systems fundamentals: concurrency, networking, performance, reliability.


• Experience building real-time data acquisition, scaling, and distribution services - low-latency messaging, time-series and relational stores.


• Hands-on experience with CI/CD, dependency/build systems, and infrastructure-as-code.


• End-to-end observability experience: logging, metrics, tracing.


• Docker/Kubernetes; release management, phased rollouts, and operational readiness for controlled networks.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Proficiency in C++, Ansible, and/or NiceGUI.


• Experience with DAQ and closed-loop control (lab/test control environments).


• Prior work on CI/testing/simulation/data tools integrated with flight software teams.


• Experience with requirements, test, and certification artifacts from safety-critical or certified workflows.


• Knowledge of ground systems standards; security in mission networks.


• Experience building mission-grade UIs with structured command workflows, alarming, and situational awareness.

Pay Range

• Salary range: Senior Software Engineer: $169,067 - $216,031/ per year.


• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA.


• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.


• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Benefits

Regular Full-Time Positions

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy +12 paid holidays


• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options


• Voluntaryaccident, hospital, critical illness,andpet insurance


• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses


• 12weeks ofparental leave(with supplemental disability leavefor CAmothers)


• Family building, pregnancy,parentingand menopausebenefitsvia Maven Clinic


• SponsoredOne Medicalmemberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equityin a fully funded space start-up


• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)


• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement


• Relocation supportfor new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly


• Company and team-bonding events, happyhoursand mission-success celebrations


• Complimentary EV charging

Intern Positions

Health & Wellness

• Paidobservedholidays


• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options


• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses


• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial

• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement


• Up to $4,000gross up in relocation support, ifeligible


• Up to $850commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly


• Company and team-bonding events, happyhoursand mission-success celebrations


• Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license. “US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.