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Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The Avionics Systems team oversees the complete design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda's Winnebago spacecraft, ensuring readiness for launch and operational phases in space and during hypersonic reentry.
In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams to define project scopes and guide designs from concept through production. You'll develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets accounting for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass to align vehicle solutions with company objectives. You will analyze avionics architecture for faults and risks, develop mitigation plans, and work on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) strategies.
Key responsibilities include conducting comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testbeds, ensuring compliance with mission objectives. You'll participate in mission operations as an avionics specialist, determining system health and reentry commit criteria. You will oversee integration of Winnebago avionics systems and serve as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations.
You'll design, build, and operate HITL testbeds that simulate the spacecraft on the ground. Additionally, you'll develop avionics ground infrastructure, including test racks and R&D equipment, while contributing to engineering best practices focused on test automation and efficiency. The role includes mentoring new engineers and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Varda was founded in 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, backed by top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, and major pharmaceutical companies. Headquarters are in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, Alabama.
