Senior Vehicle Systems Integration & Test Engineer

About This Role

As a Senior Vehicle Systems Integration & Test Engineer, you will own the vehicle from integration through launch and improve the process along the way. This is not a support role - you will lead design trades, define the test campaign, execute tests on the floor, and command the vehicle once it is in orbit. The W-series vehicle, capsule and satellite bus, is built in-house and this role owns it end-to-end. Varda has completed five missions, with four launched in 2025 alone.

This role sits at the intersection of systems and I&T - design reviews the morning and testing on the floor in the afternoon. This role interfaces with all engineering departments and engineers must be able to drive conflicting requirements to implemented solutions.

Responsibilities

• Own technical decisions to ensure vehicle success
• Create and own the vehicle integration and test campaign to validate and verify vehicle flight readiness
• Analyze and optimize system-level performance metrics, including but not limited to mass, delta-V, power, and data budgets. Make trade calls when subsystems have conflicting requirements
• Direct and influence the vehicle design by leading system-level trades and design reviews to drive top-level vehicle design, functionality, and ultimately performance
• Manage the technical outcome and milestone schedule to enable the delivery of vehicles on schedule
• Own vehicle schematic and harness design by understanding and providing input to vehicle avionics, propulsion, and guidance systems
• Evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of vehicle-level change implementation
• Utilize python to automate system testing and data review by building the tools the team depends on
• Operate vehicles in space: execute procedures, determine vehicle health, and poll subsystems

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test on critical hardware programs
• Experience as the decision maker on a test campaign - not simply supporting one
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (electrical, mechanical, software, etc.)
• Working knowledge of aerospace vehicle subsystems
• Hands-on experience building aerospace vehicles
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.
• Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing
• Hands-on position may require standing and working directly with hardware on the floor

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Hands-on experience with GNC and propulsion sensors and actuators
• Designed and owned vehicle-level design trades and/or test campaigns on a program that completed successfully
• Deep knowledge of satellite systems engineering, including all satellite subsystems
• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project
• Capability to solve complex problems autonomously as an individual or as a member of an integrated team
• Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as C++ & Python
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.)
• Prior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort
• Experience supporting flight test or flying spacecraft
• Experience in a production environment
• Wiring schematic, harness design, and harness manufacturing experience
• Unigraphics NX experience or similar CAD software

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $140,333 - $202,703/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

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).