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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 Systems Engineer II, Avionics will oversee the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda's Winnebago spacecraft, ensuring readiness for launch and operational phases including space manufacturing and hypersonic reentry.
Key responsibilities include:
• 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 accounting for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass to align vehicle solutions with company-level objectives.
• Analyze architecture for faults and risks, develop mitigation plans, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) strategies and operational workarounds.
• Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and Hardware-In-The-Loop (HITL) hardware, ensuring mission readiness for space and reentry operations.
• Participate in mission operations as an avionics specialist, determining system health and suggesting corrective actions for reentry commit criteria.
• Oversee integration of Winnebago avionics systems and serve as primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations.
• Design, build, and operate HITL testbeds that simulate the spacecraft on the ground to ensure mission readiness.
• Develop avionics ground infrastructure, support design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment, and contribute to engineering best practices focused on test automation and efficiency.
• Mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
The role is based in El Segundo, CA, where Varda operates its primary production facility. The company also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
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 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 to meet vehicle operating conditions.
• Strong project or program management skills.
• Relevant prior roles: Avionics Hardware Engineer, FPGA Engineer, Electronics Test Engineer, or Electrical Systems Engineer.
Note: This role requires ITAR compliance. Varda only hires "U.S. persons" (U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or individuals admitted as refugees or granted asylum) due to access to export-controlled items.
