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Salary: USD 119,543 - 152,749 / annual
Varda Space Industries is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing vehicles, reentry capsules, and satellite buses. The company designs, manufactures, and operates these systems in-house from its El Segundo headquarters.
The Electrical Systems Engineer II oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda's Winnebago spacecraft. This role bridges concept through operational production, ensuring all electrical systems are mission-ready for both launch and reentry phases.
Key responsibilities include:
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define project scopes and guide designs from concept to full-scale production
- Developing electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets accounting for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass
- Analyzing architecture for faults and risks, developing mitigation plans and FDIR (Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery) strategies
- Conducting comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) testbeds
- Participating in mission operations as an avionics specialist, determining system health and suggesting corrective actions
- Overseeing integration of Winnebago avionics systems as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations
- Designing, building, and operating HITL testbeds that simulate spacecraft on the ground
- Developing avionics ground infrastructure, including test racks and R&D equipment
- Mentoring and training new engineers, fostering continuous improvement
This is a hands-on technical role requiring deep expertise in avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. You will navigate conflicting requirements across teams and ensure the vehicle meets mission objectives from space manufacturing through hypersonic reentry.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field
- 3+ 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 experience:
- Taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production
- Setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system-level tests
- Familiarity with Unix environments and command-line utilities
- Developing test cases and test equipment for vehicle operating conditions
- Strong project or program management skills
- Prior roles in avionics hardware, FPGA engineering, electronics test, or electrical systems engineering
Note: This role requires U.S. person status (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) due to ITAR export-control requirements.
