Production Scheduler

About This Role

The Production Scheduler develops, maintains, and communicates the production schedule that carries satellite hardware from subassembly manufacturing through vehicle integration, test, and delivery. This role partners with Production, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to make sure hardware, tooling, and documentation are ready when the build needs them. The Production Scheduler is a key voice in identifying schedule risk, resolving production conflicts, and keeping satellite builds aligned to program milestones and launch commitments.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the detailed production schedule that carries satellite hardware from manufacturing through subassembly work, bus integration, and final test.
• Translate program milestones and delivery requirements into achievable daily and weekly production plans.
• Release work orders and track their progress through inspection, test, and hardware readiness.
• Work with Production leadership to establish build priorities and resolve production conflicts.
• Monitor production progress and update the schedule, flagging critical-path constraints and delays before they affect major program milestones.
• Develop recovery schedules when production falls behind, and communicate changes, risks, and recovery plans to all affected teams.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain to confirm parts are available before scheduled work begins.
• Partner with Engineering to track drawing releases, work-instruction approvals, and configuration changes.
• Support daily scheduling meetings and weekly schedule reviews, and keep schedule data accurate in the company's ERP and MES systems.
• Track planned-versus-actual performance, maintain vehicle completion forecasts, and support Program Management with scenario planning and schedule-impact assessments.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three or more years of experience in production scheduling, planning, or manufacturing coordination within aerospace, defense, automotive, or another complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, production dependencies, and material readiness.
• Ability to read and interpret work orders, bills of material, and engineering drawings.
• Experience using scheduling, ERP, MES, or project-management software.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across a cross-functional team from technicians to program leadership.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities and keep schedule information accurate in a fast-moving production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in operations management, supply chain, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience scheduling satellite, spacecraft, or launch-vehicle production.
• Advanced skills in scheduling and reporting tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Primavera P6, or Excel.
• Knowledge of critical-path scheduling, capacity planning, and earned-value principles.
• Familiarity with cleanroom operations and configuration-controlled hardware in a low-volume, high-mix production environment.

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Benefits

• Consider your benefits covered for launch.
• At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work.
• Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions: 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

Intern Positions: Health & Wellness

• Paid observed holidays

Financial

• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
• Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

"US person" means: 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).