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Salary: USD 131,000 - 184,000 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company designs, manufactures, and operates its W-Series vehicles entirely in-house, from heat shields to payloads.
As a Firmware Engineer on the Flight Software team, you will develop reliable firmware that controls how Varda's spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout their missions. You'll own all aspects of software development—from design and testing through integration and flight operations support.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing reliable firmware for spacecraft and reentry capsule control systems
- Owning the complete software development lifecycle: design, testing, and integration
- Scoping projects, capturing requirements, and conducting design trades for open-ended problems
- Writing quality structured code in C++ for embedded processors (bare metal, RTOS, or Linux-based)
- Building highly reliable and available software systems
- Ensuring system quality and performance through comprehensive V&V techniques
You'll need a bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, or engineering, plus 3+ years developing spacecraft or safety-critical software. Experience with real-time embedded systems and strong C++ proficiency are essential. Preferred qualifications include aerospace safety-critical software experience, knowledge of Python or Rust, and deep understanding of computer architecture, operating systems, data structures, and networking.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. The company was founded in 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, backed by top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major pharmaceutical companies.
