Senior Spaceflight Automation Engineer – On-Site El Segundo

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

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Long-term cash awards

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer to build and qualify spaceflight test infrastructure. You will design, implement, and own GSE and test systems, including propulsion test stands and environmental chambers.

You will also contribute to PLC framework development, select between TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based controls, and collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing teams to meet tight schedules.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field is required.
• 5+ years in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with EtherCAT, Modbus, RS-232/485 or similar protocols.
• Experience with Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 (IEC 61131-3) or eagerness to develop in it.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and GSE for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Integrate hardware such as thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, and data acquisition systems.
• Develop and extend PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support program needs.
• Contribute to real-time control architecture decisions, comparing PLC-based vs Linux-based approaches.
• Assemble cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from design to commissioning.
• Collaborate with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to meet aggressive timelines.
• Champion sustainable engineering practices and enable new engineers to ramp quickly.

Skills

Test automation

Controls engineering

Industrial automation

Real-time control

Safety-critical control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

EtherCAT

IEC 61131-3

Modbus

Python

Job description

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer to build and qualify spaceflight test infrastructure. You will design, implement, and own GSE and test systems, including propulsion test stands and environmental chambers.

You will also contribute to PLC framework development, select between TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based controls, and collaborate with propulsion, avionics, and manufacturing teams to meet tight schedules.