Senior Spaceflight Automation & Controls Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Fully stocked kitchen

Team events & celebrations

EV charging

401(k) with company match

Relocation assistance

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is seeking a Senior Automation and Controls Engineer to design, build, and own test infrastructure for spaceflight hardware qualification and manufacturing. You will develop GSE, integrate diverse hardware, and shape architecture for real-time control systems.

The role requires hands-on PLC work, EtherCAT, and a track record in a fast-paced startup environment. This on-site position in El Segundo, CA offers growth, stock options, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field.
• 5+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar communication standards.
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 (IEC 61131-3) or eager to develop expertise there.
• Comfort working across the full stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, and debugging hardware.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where end-to-end ownership of problems is expected.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Integrate with a wide range of external hardware, including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
• Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) versus Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications.
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning.
• Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines.
• Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably.

Skills

Test automation

Controls

Industrial automation

EtherCAT

TwinCAT 3

PLC programming

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

EtherCAT tooling

Job description

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is seeking a Senior Automation and Controls Engineer to design, build, and own test infrastructure for spaceflight hardware qualification and manufacturing. You will develop GSE, integrate diverse hardware, and shape architecture for real-time control systems.

The role requires hands-on PLC work, EtherCAT, and a track record in a fast-paced startup environment. This on-site position in El Segundo, CA offers growth, stock options, and a comprehensive benefits package.