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Salary: USD 140,333 - 202,703 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing vehicles, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company designs and operates all systems in-house, from heat shields to avionics.
As Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer, Avionics, you will oversee the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda's Winnebago spacecraft. You'll ensure all systems are mission-ready for launch and operational phases, requiring deep expertise in avionics system design, manufacturing, and operational protocols.
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project scopes and requirements, guiding designs from concept through prototype to full-scale production
- Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions
- Analyze architecture for faults and risks; develop mitigation plans and Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) strategies
- Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HITL) hardware
- Participate in mission operations as an avionics specialist, determining system health and suggesting corrective actions
- Oversee integration of Winnebago avionics systems; serve as primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations
- Design, build, and operate HITL testbeds to simulate spacecraft on the ground
- Develop avionics ground infrastructure and support design/integration of test racks and R&D equipment
- Mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement
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:
- 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 under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled items.
