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Salary: USD 140,333 - 179,314 / annual
Varda Space Industries is a commercial space infrastructure company building in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses. The company is backed by top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund, with leadership from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major pharmaceutical companies.
As Senior Manufacturing Engineer–Integration, you will serve as the central orchestrator of spacecraft final assembly at Varda's El Segundo production facility. You will own the end-to-end integration process from subassembly mating through final vehicle closeout, ensuring every build is executed accurately, safely, and on schedule. This role sits at the convergence of structures, propulsion, avionics, and thermal protection systems (TPS), requiring you to resolve conflicts between subsystems in real time on the factory floor.
Key responsibilities include:
- Owning spacecraft integration sequences and procedures from subassembly mating through final vehicle acceptance
- Developing, maintaining, and continuously improving assembly travelers and integration work instructions that sequence all subsystem interfaces correctly
- Serving as the primary interface between manufacturing and all engineering disciplines (structures, propulsion, avionics, TPS) during vehicle integration
- Identifying and resolving interface conflicts, clearance issues, and assembly sequence problems before they impact build schedule
- Leading integration readiness reviews and ensuring all pre-integration checkpoints (cleanliness, FOD sweeps, torque records, pin-to-pin checks) are completed and documented
- Driving root cause analysis and RCCA for integration non-conformances; dispositioning MRBs in coordination with design engineering
- Tracking integration metrics (planned vs. actual cycle time, NCR rates, rework hours) and implementing targeted improvements to hit cadence goals
- Defining tooling and lifting/handling equipment requirements for safe vehicle integration operations
This role demands exceptional situational awareness, meticulous attention to process discipline, and the confidence to resolve conflicts between subsystems in real time. You will work directly with flight hardware and must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods.
Varda offers comprehensive benefits including 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible PTO plus 12 paid holidays; 12 weeks of parental leave; substantial equity in a fully funded space startup; 401(k) with 6% immediate employer match; daily lunch and twice-weekly dinner; and complimentary EV charging.
Note: This role requires U.S. person status (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to ITAR export-control requirements.
Requirements:
- B.S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering, or related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 3–6+ years)
- 3+ years of experience in vehicle or system-level integration roles or final assembly within aerospace, defense, robotics, or similar industries
- Strong understanding of how multiple subsystems (mechanical, electrical, fluid) interface within a vehicle assembly
- Experience developing and executing complex assembly or integration procedures
- Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound, real-time decisions on the production floor
- Exceptional communication and coordination skills across multi-discipline teams
- Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware
Preferred qualifications:
- M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering specialized in Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Control Theory, or similar discipline
- Experience as a lead integration engineer or integration ME on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program
- Familiarity with integration and test (I&T) flows for complex aerospace vehicles, including functional testing at each integration milestone
- Background managing integration of flight hardware from multiple subsystem suppliers or internal teams into a single vehicle
- Experience with configuration management and build record documentation in a regulated aerospace environment
- Knowledge of cleanliness and contamination control requirements for propulsion, optical, or precision mechanism integration
- Hands-on experience with vehicle handling (cranes, slings, rotation fixtures, and precision alignment tooling)
- Prior work in a manufacturing environment actively scaling from unit builds to multi-vehicle concurrent production
- Experience conducting integration readiness reviews, pre-mate inspections, and post-integration functional checkouts
