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Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing vehicles, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company designs and operates its W-Series vehicles end-to-end, from heat shields to avionics systems.
As Senior Space Vehicle Systems Engineer for Avionics, you will lead the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda's Winnebago vehicle. This role sits at the intersection of spacecraft systems engineering and operational readiness, requiring deep expertise in avionics architecture, fault analysis, and mission-critical verification.
Key responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define requirements and guide designs from concept through production
- Developing electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets (power, telemetry, mass, size) aligned with vehicle-level objectives
- Conducting fault analysis, developing mitigation strategies, and designing Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) systems
- Creating comprehensive verification plans for flight and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HITL) testbeds
- Participating in mission operations as an avionics specialist, determining system health and reentry commit criteria
- Overseeing avionics integration and serving as primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations
- Designing, building, and operating HITL testbeds that simulate spacecraft behavior on the ground
- Developing avionics ground infrastructure, test racks, and R&D equipment
- Mentoring junior engineers and fostering engineering best practices
You bring at least 5 years of experience in systems design, test planning, and validation. A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related field is required. Proficiency in Python and strong understanding of spacecraft systems, electrical architecture, and test automation are essential. Experience with avionics, fault tolerance, or space vehicle programs is highly valued.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major pharmaceutical companies, backed by leading investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund.
