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Salary: USD 119,543 - 152,749 / annual
Varda Space Industries is accelerating commercial space infrastructure development, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules. The company designs, builds, and operates W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, CA with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
As Manufacturing Engineer II (Propulsion), you will scale manufacturing from bespoke vehicles to consistent, concurrent builds. This role supports propulsion system production across valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration. You will own manufacturing processes for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware from tube shop operations through acceptance testing, working directly with design engineers and technicians to implement incremental improvements for every vehicle produced.
Key responsibilities include:
- Own end-to-end manufacturing processes for propulsion system production (valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, engine integration)
- Develop and maintain work instructions, process traveler documents, and process specifications for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware
- Provide technical direction to improve propulsion build processes and drive increased vehicle production cadence
- Implement and enforce propulsion-specific cleanliness protocols, contamination control procedures, and propellant compatibility requirements
- Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions (RCCA) for propulsion non-conformances, including leak events, contamination findings, and assembly defects
- Define tooling and test equipment requirements for tube shop operations, leak checks, and propulsion acceptance testing
- Collaborate with design engineers and supply chain to prevent schedule delays and resolve incoming hardware quality issues
- Refine propulsion work cell layouts and product flow to support cadence increase and concurrent vehicle builds
REQUIREMENTS:
- B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 1–3+ years)
- 3+ years of manufacturing experience with propulsion systems, fluid systems, or high-pressure hardware in aerospace or related industry
- Hands-on experience with tube fabrication, tube bending, tube fitting installation, and high-pressure fluid system assembly
- Familiarity with propulsion system cleanliness requirements, cleanliness verification methods, and contamination control procedures
- Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, P&IDs, and assembly models for fluid systems
- Strong first principles problem-solving capability; able to diagnose propulsion build defects and drive corrective action to closure
- Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- M.S. degree in Mechanical engineering specialized in Fluid Mechanics, Process Engineering, or related discipline
- Experience manufacturing and assembling propulsion systems for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or hypersonic vehicles, including valve assembly and pressure vessel integration
- Experience with high pressure fluid systems testing, or qualification of assemblies including energetics and explosives
- Experience with materials including metals, composites, and plastics for use in propulsion systems
- Experience with manufacturing methods relevant to propulsion systems, including welding, orbital welding, machining and additive manufacturing
- Experience with NDE, including ultrasonic testing, dye penetrant, X-ray and others
- Prior work transitioning propulsion assemblies from development to production environments with increasing build rate
- Familiarity with hazardous materials handling and safety protocols associated with propellant loading and propulsion acceptance testing
Note: ITAR requirements apply; only U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or individuals admitted as refugees/granted asylum) are eligible.
