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Salary: USD 119,543 - 152,749 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. As a Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer, you will own end-to-end mission success for a diverse portfolio of payloads—both internally designed pharmaceutical processing systems and hosted customer payloads such as inertial, RF, optical sensors, communication systems, and instrumentation.
You will serve as the technical bridge between each payload and the Varda vehicle. Key responsibilities include:
• Act as the responsible engineer for assigned payloads from initial scoping through post-flight data delivery, managing both in-house pharma payloads and hosted customer payloads
• Work with payload providers to scope and define payload-to-vehicle interfaces, capture requirements in Interface Control Documents (ICDs), and coordinate special accommodations or vehicle changes with related engineering disciplines
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for external payload customers throughout the mission lifecycle, from early-stage scoping through deorbit and recovery
• Plan and execute payload-level integration and test activities, including incoming inspection, functional checkouts, and environmental testing (vibration, EMI/EMC, TVAC), plus payload-specific verifications such as leak testing or pharmaceutical process testing
• Coordinate with Vehicle I&T engineers to plan and execute full-vehicle test activities, including payload installation, system compatibility, and vehicle-in-the-loop mission scenario testing
• Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues arising during integration and test
• Work with mission operations engineers to define payload flight operations, command sequences, and operations procedures; support on-console operations as needed
• Drive lessons learned from each mission into interface documentation, payload accommodation guides, and integration processes
This role is ideal for system-minded engineers with broad cross-disciplinary background who enjoy both concept synthesis and hands-on integration and test work. You will work in Varda's El Segundo production facility where vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, Systems Engineering, or other relevant field
• 2+ years of experience integrating and testing spacecraft, payloads, or comparably complex electro-mechanical hardware
• First-principles problem solving and broad system-level thinking
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working hands-on in a cleanroom with critical flight hardware; must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs; must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing while working directly with hardware on the floor
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience integrating hosted or customer-furnished payloads onto a spacecraft or launch vehicle
• Experience developing and managing interface control documents, requirements, and verification/validation plans
• Hands-on experience with aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC) and familiarity with standards such as GSFC-STD-7000 and SMC-S-016
• Exposure to pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated-industry hardware and quality practices
• Working knowledge of export control regulations (ITAR/EAR) as applied to technical exchanges with external parties
Note: This role requires U.S. person status (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled items.
