Space-Grade Fluid Systems Lead for In-Space Pharma

Vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 182,000 - 232,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with company match

Relocation assistance

Wellness reimbursement

Parental leave

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA seeks a Principal Fluid Systems Engineer to define and lead the development of in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads. You will guide cross-functional teams through requirements, design, and on-orbit operation, delivering reliable hardware for microgravity environments.

The role emphasizes mechanical and fluid systems expertise, leadership of project teams, and collaboration with scientists, process engineers, and spacecraft subsystems to enable

Qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Biomedical, Chemical, or related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware.
• Deep mechanical and fluid systems expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines.
• Track record leading project teams through full-cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development.
• Extensive experience with valves, pumps, pistons, tubing, manifolds, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, metering hardware, thermal-control hardware, and/or compact fluidic assemblies.
• Excellent communication skills with customer, executive, and cross-disciplinarytechnical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Define requirements, architecture, and development plans for pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads
• Establish fluid system design standards for component selection and qualification, sealing, contamination control, thermal control, and verification/validation
• Lead project teams to develop of precision fluid systems incorporating valves, pumps, pistons, manifolds, tubing, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, and thermal control systems
• Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction using a variety of tools (hand calcs, Python/MATLAB models, FEA, etc. as needed)
• Lead build and test campaigns for prototypes and flight hardware to characterize performance and reliability
• Synthesize cross-functional inputs from business development, pharmaceutical science, process engineering, and spacecraft subsystem teams to develop requirements for new pharmaceutical payloads
• Develop standards for subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, test reports, and recovery procedures
• Represent Varda in technical discussions with internal leadership, external partners, customers, and government stakeholders
• Lead continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned
• Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices

Skills

Electromechanical hardware

Fluid systems

Project leadership

Stakeholder communication

Valves and pumps

Education

BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Biomedical, Chemical, or related engineering

Tools

Python

MATLAB

FEA

Job description

Varda Space Industries in El Segundo, CA seeks a Principal Fluid Systems Engineer to define and lead the development of in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads. You will guide cross-functional teams through requirements, design, and on-orbit operation, delivering reliable hardware for microgravity environments.

The role emphasizes mechanical and fluid systems expertise, leadership of project teams, and collaboration with scientists, process engineers, and spacecraft subsystems to enable