Spacecraft Process Engineer — Build Reliability & Flight Readiness

vardaspace; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 109,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Build Reliability & Process Engineer to scale spacecraft hardware production. You will partner with design and manufacturing to size processes, develop test plans, and ensure reliable, high-quality parts for flight.

The role requires hands-on hardware test and failure analysis, with a focus on lean quality, data-driven improvements, and collaboration across teams. On-site work with opportunities to influence reliability from design through production.

Qualifications

• 3+ years professional experience in aerospace, design, quality, or related engineering role.
• Bachelor's degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or materials engineering.
• Hands-on hardware test, qualification, troubleshooting, or failure analysis experience.
• Commitment to lean quality principles without compromising safety or reliability.
• Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environments.
• Experience generating, processing, and/or analyzing data for production insight.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with a drive to innovate and improve reliability in cutting-edge technology.

Responsibilities

• Build Reliability Engineers partner with design and manufacturing to right-size processes and controls to enable scaling the production of spacecraft hardware.
• Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams to create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for vehicle hardware.
• Contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers.
• Lead failure investigations in production, test, and operation; identifying and mitigating root causes to improve reliability.
• Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
• Perform failure modes and effects analyses, build requirements compliance matrix tools, and ensure adequate test coverage, change management, and manufacturability of flight hardware.
• Own vehicle level deliverables for regulatory bodies including requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence.
• Support Mission Assurance's vehicle level risk management and identification / tracking / execution of mitigations.

Skills

Aerospace engineering

Hardware testing

Process control

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering

Bachelor's degree in computer science

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Bachelor's degree in manufacturing engineering

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Bachelor's degree in materials engineering

Tools

Measurement systems analysis

Design of experiments

Statistical process control

APQP

PFMEA

Control plans

Job description

Varda in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Build Reliability & Process Engineer to scale spacecraft hardware production. You will partner with design and manufacturing to size processes, develop test plans, and ensure reliable, high-quality parts for flight.

The role requires hands-on hardware test and failure analysis, with a focus on lean quality, data-driven improvements, and collaboration across teams. On-site work with opportunities to influence reliability from design through production.