Senior Propulsion Engineer - Hardware and Bus Systems

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

As the Senior Propulsion Engineer – Hardware & Bus Systems, you will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem and propulsion hardware across Varda's fleet of satellite buses. You will be responsible for propulsion system architecture, analysis products, component sizing, propulsion software tool development, data review, detailed mechanical design, subsystem test, and operations both on the ground and in orbit while working within an interdisciplinary engineering team.

Your work will directly influence the development of future vehicles and capabilities key to Varda’s growth. You’ll thrive in a fast-moving environment, taking full ownership of your systems and raising the technical bar for everyone around you.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the Varda spacecraft propulsion system technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation
• Design, analyze, and test Varda satellite bus propulsion flight hardware and components
• Identify opportunities and execute propulsion system block upgrades on operational vehicles, inclusive of both schematic and hardware changes, to increase reliability and cadence
• Help define requirements and high-level propulsion architecture for future Varda vehicles; develop project plans with roadmaps, milestones, and drive cross-team alignment
• Generate propulsion performance analysis products and document key requirements (propellant budgets, pressure ladders, fluid component sizing, structural & thermal limits, more) and deliver them as inputs to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and other cross-disciplinary partner teams
• Build Python scripts and spreadsheet tools to automate recurring analysis and test data reduction workflows
• Execute detailed mechanical design of propulsion hardware and fluid system components; perform structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools
• Author and review design documentation, engineering specs, build/integration/test procedures, and engineering memos
• Sit on console for in-flight propulsion operations
• Serve as a technical authority to disposition hardware nonconformances. Lead anomaly investigations and drive corrective actions to improve quality across the organization.
• Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical reviewer for analysis products, design packages, and external deliverables

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered (typically 3–6+ years)
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in propulsion or fluid systems definition, design, build, and test for spacecraft or launch vehicles
• Deep working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation
• Proficiency reading and authoring P&IDs
• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) and PLM software
• Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns, including console operations
• Demonstrated ability to drive anomaly investigations and technical problems to resolution across organizational boundaries

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of years of spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion experience, including satellite bus-level propulsion architectures (monopropellant, bipropellant, cold gas systems)
• Hands-on experience building Python scripts or spreadsheet tools to automate recurring propulsion analysis & data review workflows
• Structural analysis experience using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools applied to propulsion or fluid system hardware
• Experience generating and reviewing technical drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards
• Experience with spacecraft-grade propellants including cryogenic, hypergolic, or high-test peroxide systems. Working knowledge of cleanliness, handling, and safety requirements.
• Test, launch site, or in-flight operational experience on spacecraft or launch vehicles.
• Proficiency using 1D fluid modeling & analysis tools (GFSSP, REFPROP, other)
• Experience developing & refining engineering standards, design guidelines, or analysis frameworks within a propulsion organization
• Exceptional technical communication skills — precision and clarity in work instructions, engineering specifications, and engineering memos
• Experience managing or mentoring technical contributors, formally or informally

Pay Range

• Salary Range: Senior: $140,333 – $179,314/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

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Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.