Varda Space
Senior Avionics Systems Engineer
El Segundo, California, United States · Senior
Work authorization requiredDetected 27 days ago
LinuxAvionicsSystems EngineeringElectrical EngineeringTest AutomationLeadershipCollaborationFiber Optics
About the role
- ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with cross functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
- Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets to account for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions used to communicate closing vehicle solutions to company level objectives.
- Analyze architecture for potential faults and risks, develop comprehensive mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible.
- Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission ready
- Develop avionics ground infrastructure, supporting the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles.
- Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
- Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Requirements
- Programming Skills: Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
- At least 5 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
Skills
- Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
- Technical Expertise: Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.
- Preferred Skills and Experience
- Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production.
- Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system level tests.
- Familiarity with Unix environments and the ability to use command line utilities.
- Strong project or program management skills
- Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):
- 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
Benefits
- $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 offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience.
Visa & Work Authorization
- 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.
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This listing is sourced directly from Varda Space's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.