Varda Space

Senior Mission Design Engineer

El Segundo, California, United States · Senior

Work authorization required$170k-$215kDetected 12 days ago

PythonC++MATLABAlgorithmsProject ManagementBusiness DevelopmentElectrical EngineeringControlsLeadershipCommunicationThermodynamicsFiber Optics

About the role

You will work closely with a top-notch multidisciplinary vehicle engineering team to architect the mission plan and trajectory of the world's first commercial reentry vehicle, enabling the ability to precision land and return manufactured products to earth.
We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving complex and open-ended problems, can work effectively in a fast-paced environment and share our passion in creating in-space industry.

Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a next generation space vehicle
Design spacecraft trajectories and produce orbital analyses for commercial reentry vehicles
Optimize trajectories based on fuel, time, and/or performance characteristics
Work closely with propulsion, software and flight operations teams to ensure vehicle and mission objectives are accomplished in the vehicle design
Design and implementation of autonomous satellite navigational solutions, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, and atmospheric re-entry algorithms
Lead the development of new vehicle capabilities
Develop and maintain ground-based mission operations tooling in support of automated and scalable on-orbit operations
Support in-orbit operations as trajectory specialist, including coordination with other spacecraft operators and 3rd party entities
Ability to scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems
Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsule

B.S. degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, physics, or related field
5+ proven years of experience, or PhD with 3+ years of relevant experience
Experience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations
Proven system engineering and configuration management skills
Experience supporting flight test or flying spacecraft
Experience with project management for cradle-to-grave projects
Develop 6 degree of freedom vehicle simulation using C++ and Python

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
$170,000 - $215,000/per year
Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement

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
$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
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

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.

This listing is sourced directly from Varda Space's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.