Varda Space
Senior Software Automation and Controls Engineer - Python & PLCs
El Segundo, California, United States · Senior
Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 12 days ago
PythonLinuxEmbedded SystemsAvionicsPLCMechanical DesignElectrical EngineeringTest AutomationLeadershipFiber Optics
About the role
- This is a hands-on engineering role on a small, growing team.
- You'll have significant ownership over architecture decisions and the opportunity to shape how test automation is done across the organization, from propulsion test stands to environmental qualification to spacecraft-level integration testing.
- Our stack includes a custom modern software-engineering-focused PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling, so you should be the kind of engineer who's energized rather than intimidated by working inside a proprietary stack.
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing
- Develop and extend our internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling
- Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning
- Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines
- Demonstrate sustainable engineering practices that help onboard new engineers to the tech stack and maintain production systems.
- As a Senior Software Automation and Controls Engineer at Varda, you'll develop our custom test infrastructure and bespoke engineering solutions for spaceflight hardware.
- You'll build sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems supporting spacecraft development and manufacturing operations, working at the intersection of software, electrical, and mechanical domains.
Requirements
- 5+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, or industrial automation
- Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3) or willingness to develop deep expertise there
- Comfort working across the stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, debugging hardware
Nice to have
- Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks (vs. only vendor-provided stacks)
- EtherCAT experience beyond consumer-level usage - DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work
- Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 languages
- Experience designing deterministic, hard real-time control loops (sub-millisecond cycle times)
- Understanding of when to use real-time PLC code vs. higher-level orchestration in Python - and the tradeoffs between them
- Bare-metal or embedded firmware experience
- Preferred Skills and Experience
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This listing is sourced directly from Varda Space's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.