Senior Spacecraft Avionics Systems Engineer

About the role

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth.

Our team is comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies, and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with backing from world-class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
• Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets to account for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions used to communicate closing vehicle solutions to company-level objectives.
• Analyze architecture for potential faults and risks, develop comprehensive mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible.
• Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and HITL hardware, ensuring readiness for launch and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations.
• Participate in mission operations as an Avionics specialist or system operator, determining system health, suggesting corrective actions, and defining reentry commit criteria for operational success.
• Oversee the integration of the Winnebago avionics systems, acting as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations.
• Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission-ready.
• Develop avionics ground infrastructure, supporting the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles.
• Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
• Mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
• Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
• Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.

Qualifications (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 the ability to use command-line utilities.
• Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions.
• Strong project or program management skills.

Pay

Salary range: $169,000 - $216,000 annually. Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance. Offer compensation also includes the ability to receive stock options under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.

Benefits

• Health & Wellness
  • Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
  • 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
  • Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
  • $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
  • 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
  • Family building, pregnancy, parenting, and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
  • Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
• Financial & Retirement
  • Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
  • 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
  • $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
  • Relocation support for new hires, if needed
• Workplace Experience & Perks
  • Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
  • Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and mission-success celebrations
  • Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

This role requires employees to be “U.S. persons” as defined by ITAR: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).