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Salary: USD 144,020 - 184,026 / annual
Varda Space Industries is accelerating commercial space infrastructure development, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable reentry capsules. The company designs, builds, and operates its 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 an RF Components Engineer II, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless connectivity between Varda's satellite vehicles and ground stations. You will own the complete lifecycle of RF components—from specification definition through flight deployment—collaborating closely with RF Systems Engineers to select or design necessary hardware. Your work will be critical in rigorously validating components before deployment to space, with a strong emphasis on ownership and setting new standards for testing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the Responsible Engineer for RF flight components, including radios, power amplifiers, antennas, and filters
- Collaborate with RF Systems Engineers to refine product specifications, select or design components, and oversee the entire product lifecycle
- Work with Flight Software, Structures, and Integration & Test teams to document cross-functional interface requirements for successful hardware deployment
- Own product acceptance and qualification testing for space environments, including Thermal, Vibration, Shock, TVAC, and EMI testing
- Develop test software to automate equipment, stimulate, and measure component performance, ensuring consistent flight hardware readiness
- Conduct root cause analysis on test failures and implement comprehensive mitigation strategies for flight risks
The role emphasizes extreme ownership, rigorous testing above expected flight conditions, and thorough failure investigation. Varda's philosophy is that the trip to space and back is the easiest trip hardware takes, so components are stressed well beyond expected flight levels.
Requirements:
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, or related field
- Strong hands-on experience with RF test equipment including VNAs, spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, function generators, power meters, and power supplies
- Familiarity with RF components including LNAs, power amplifiers, mixers, filters, oscillators/synthesizers, attenuators, and switches
- Experience designing and integrating RF components into complete transmit or receive signal chains
- Proven track record of extreme ownership over projects, leading them to successful completion
- Proficiency with Python; familiarity with test software libraries like PyVISA for communication with test equipment
- Demonstrated curiosity and commitment to exploring foundational concepts and pursuing detailed insights with diligence
Preferred Skills:
- Prior experience standing up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and driving 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, thermal chambers)
- Strong project or program management skills
- Ability to thrive in dynamic work environment valuing teamwork, innovation, and tackling challenges head-on
Note: ITAR requirements apply. Candidates must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).
