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Salary: USD 140,333 - 179,314 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company designs and operates its W-Series vehicles end-to-end, from payload design through heat shields and bus architecture.
The Senior Avionics Systems Engineer oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda's Winnebago spacecraft. This role ensures all systems are mission-ready for both launch and operational phases, requiring deep expertise in avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols.
Key responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define project scopes and requirements, guiding designs from concept through prototype to full-scale production
- Developing electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions
- Analyzing architecture for faults and risks, developing mitigation plans, and designing Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) strategies
- Conducting comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HITL) hardware
- Participating in mission operations as an avionics specialist, determining system health and suggesting corrective actions
- Overseeing integration of Winnebago avionics systems and serving as primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations
- Designing, building, and operating HITL testbeds to simulate spacecraft systems on the ground
- Developing avionics ground infrastructure, including test racks and R&D equipment
- Mentoring and training new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement
The role requires navigating conflicting requirements across teams and ensuring the vehicle meets mission objectives from space manufacturing through hypersonic reentry testing.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field
- 5+ years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation
- Proficiency in Python programming and debugging
- Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment
Preferred qualifications:
- Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production
- Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system-level tests
- Familiarity with Unix environments and command-line utilities
- Experience developing test cases and test equipment for vehicle operating conditions
- Strong project or program management skills
- Background in avionics hardware, FPGA engineering, electronics test engineering, or electrical systems engineering
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.
