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Salary: USD 119,543 - 152,749 / annual
Varda Space Industries is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. The company designs, builds, and operates W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
As an Avionics Test Engineer II, you will play a key role in designing and operating critical systems that simulate and stress-test flight hardware to prove it is ready for space. Your expertise will be crucial in ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, build, and operate test systems for spacecraft avionics components and assemblies to fully exercise components during environmental stress testing and component acceptance testing.
- Develop software in Python to implement and execute test procedures, analyze test data, assess pass/fail criteria, and generate test reports.
- Collaborate with component Responsible Engineers (REs) to identify test cases and develop innovative testing strategies to ensure avionics products meet their intended performance standards across extreme conditions.
- Craft comprehensive test plans for flight hardware, manage and conduct qualification, acceptance, and proto-flight tests.
- Work closely with avionics test systems engineers and manufacturing engineers to standardize test software behavior, user interfaces, and data reporting.
- Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
- Collaborate with avionics systems and flight software engineers to develop and operate Hardware in the Loop (HITL) testbeds to simulate the spacecraft on the ground and ensure all systems are mission-ready.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- At least 3 years of experience in system validation, component testing, or test software development.
- Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
- Experience with electronics test equipment including power supplies, DAQ systems, electronic loads, oscilloscopes, and multimeters.
- Familiarity with common sensor types, including thermocouples, RTDs, and 4-20mA devices.
- Proficiency with Git source control system.
Preferred Skills:
- Prior experience standing up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and driving and operating system-level tests.
- Familiarity with Unix environments.
- Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions.
- Experience operating environmental test equipment (vibration shakers, TVAC chambers, or thermal chambers).
- Strong project or program management skills.
Note: ITAR requirements apply. Only U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or individuals admitted as refugees or granted asylum) are eligible.
