Thermal Hardware and Test Engineer II

About the role

Varda is a space technology company focused on developing commercial space infrastructure. The Thermal Hardware and Test Engineer II position involves designing, building, and testing thermal and fluid systems for both ground and spacecraft applications. Key responsibilities include developing thermal control systems, coordinating with manufacturing teams, conducting thermal vacuum tests, and implementing instrumentation.

Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end development of thermal hardware and test infrastructure
• Develop active and passive thermal control systems
• Inform manufacturing and integration of thermal/fluid hardware
• Conduct component level acceptance and qualification thermal vacuum tests
• Evaluate hardware design impacts on packaging, thermal, environmental, and loads
• Architect and assemble fluid, thermal, mechanical, and electrical designs
• Implement instrumentation and data acquisition solutions
• Generate documentation for procedures, schematics, and reports
• Diagnose and resolve equipment reliability issues

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, with 3+ years of relevant experience
• Experience in thermal design, test, and fabrication
• Proficiency in Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT
• Experience with MATLAB for data processing and automation
• Familiarity with thermal margins and qualification test requirements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Skills

• Hands-on fabrication skills (machining, welding, rapid prototyping)
• Experience with thermal analysis tools (Thermal Desktop, ANSYS)
• Proven project management experience

Pay

The pay range for this role is $119,543 - $152,749 per year. The position is on-site in El Segundo, CA.

Benefits

• Flexible PTO policy and 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance plans with FSA and HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting, and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships
• Complimentary EV charging
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and mission-success celebrations

ITAR Requirements

Varda requires that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. and that employees are not exposed to or have access to certain export-controlled items.

E-Verify

Varda participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.