Spaceflight Automation and Controls Engineer II

Varda Space Industries, Inc.; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Varda Space Industries, Inc. in El Segundo, CA, is seeking an Automation and Controls Engineer II to design, build, and own test infrastructure ensuring spaceflight hardware qualification.

You will develop bespoke GSE, integrate diverse hardware, and advance PLC-based or Linux-based control solutions. You will influence architecture decisions, work with modern stacks, including Beckhoff EtherCAT, and help define testing standards for production and flight programs.

Qualifications

• Design, build, and maintain test systems and GSE for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
• Develop and extend internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
• Evaluate real-time control approaches (PLC-based vs Linux-based) for high-frequency control applications.
• Collaborate on architecture decisions and define enduring standards for spaceflight hardware testing.

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, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
• Develop and extend Varda's PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
• Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation (TwinCAT 3 vs Linux-based approaches).
• Build cabinets, wire panels, and own end-to-end systems from electrical design through commissioning.

Skills

Automation engineering

PLC programming

Electrical design

Systems integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Beckhoff EtherCAT

TwinCAT 3

Job description

Varda Space Industries, Inc. in El Segundo, CA, is seeking an Automation and Controls Engineer II to design, build, and own test infrastructure ensuring spaceflight hardware qualification.

You will develop bespoke GSE, integrate diverse hardware, and advance PLC-based or Linux-based control solutions. You will influence architecture decisions, work with modern stacks, including Beckhoff EtherCAT, and help define testing standards for production and flight programs.