Space Hardware Controls Engineer II - Real-Time PLC

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Relocation assistance

401(k) retirement plan

Wellness reimbursement

Parental leave

One Medical memberships

Equity incentives

Cell phone reimbursement

Job summary

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is seeking a Hardware Automation and Controls Engineer II to design, build, and own test infrastructure for spaceflight hardware qualification.

You will develop ground support equipment and test systems using a modern PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling, impacting architecture decisions and standards. Responsibilities include creating turnkey test stations, integrating thermal vacuum chambers and propulsion rigs, and collaborating with propulsion, avionics,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant engineering field.
• 2+ years in test automation, controls, or industrial automation.
• Experience with EtherCAT, Modbus, RS-232/485 or similar.
• Experience with a modern PLC ecosystem (Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 preferred).
• Able to design, wire, and debug electrical panels and cabinets.
• Thrives in a fast-paced startup environment with end-to-end ownership.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Integrate with external hardware including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, and data acquisition.
• Develop and extend internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to meet evolving needs.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control, evaluating PLC-based vs Linux-based approaches.
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through 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

EtherCAT

TwinCAT 3

PLC programming

Real-time control

Electrical panels

Hardware integration

Python orchestration

GSE development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

Beckhoff TwinCAT 3

Job description

Varda Space Industries, Inc. is seeking a Hardware Automation and Controls Engineer II to design, build, and own test infrastructure for spaceflight hardware qualification.

You will develop ground support equipment and test systems using a modern PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling, impacting architecture decisions and standards. Responsibilities include creating turnkey test stations, integrating thermal vacuum chambers and propulsion rigs, and collaborating with propulsion, avionics,