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Salary: USD 119,543 - 152,749 / annual
Varda Space Industries is seeking an Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Engineer II to support the operation of current vehicles and development of next-generation reentry vehicles. The role spans the full flight envelope from rarefied entry through hypersonic maneuvering to subsonic terminal approach.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own aerodynamic and aeroheating database development across the full flight envelope, serving as authoritative aeroscience input to guidance, navigation & control (GNC), thermal protection system (TPS) sizing, and mission analysis
- Plan, execute, and reduce data from wind tunnel campaigns; reconcile ground test results with CFD predictions and update vehicle databases with traceable, well-documented revisions
- Run high-fidelity CFD and DSMC simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows using tools such as Fun3D, LAURA, DPLR, US3D, SPARTA, DAC, and CBAero; build structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise
- Characterize static and dynamic stability, develop 6DOF simulation inputs, and contribute to flight rules and vehicle-level performance models
- Synthesize aerodynamic evidence from CFD, wind tunnel, and flight telemetry into a coherent, traceable database supporting GNC, TPS sizing, and mission analysis
- Lead post-flight aerodynamic reconstruction and performance assessments; identify divergences between preflight predictions and reality, driving model updates for improved future missions
- Collaborate across disciplines (GNC, structures, TPS, mission planning) to deliver flight-ready aeroscience products and serve as the aerodynamics voice in cross-discipline design discussions
About Varda:
Varda is a commercial space infrastructure company accelerating development of in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reliable, economical reentry capsules. The company designs, builds, and operates its W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. Founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, Varda is backed by leading investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and General Catalyst. Headquarters in El Segundo, CA with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Requirements:
- BS degree in engineering or physics with 3+ years of relevant industry experience, OR relevant PhD with 1+ years of relevant industry experience
- Meaningful contribution to the aerodynamic development of a hypersonic vehicle that has flown or is on track to fly within the next 5 years
- Experience analyzing aerodynamic data from test, CFD, flight, and other sources with rigorous documentation
- Experience running CFD and DSMC simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows (Fun3D, LAURA, DPLR, US3D, SPARTA, DAC, CBAero)
- Comfortable building structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise
- Proficiency in MATLAB or Python
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to translate complex aeroscience findings for cross-disciplinary audiences
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance; U.S. citizenship required
Preferred Skills:
- Advanced degree in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering, specializing in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics
- Hands-on wind tunnel campaign experience including test planning, execution, and data reduction
- Direct ownership of aerodynamic and aeroheating databases for a flying vehicle
- Familiarity with modeling vehicle dynamics in POST2 or similar 6DOF tools
- Experience sizing ablative or non-ablative TPS
- Experience with flight reconstruction and post-flight performance evaluations
- Technical breadth in adjacent disciplines (GNC, avionics, software, structures)
