Varda Space

Real-Time Software Automation and Controls Engineer - Beckhoff

El Segundo, California, United States

Sponsorship not specified$131k-$184kDetected 11 days ago

PythonFull-Stack DevelopmentDockerLinuxGrafanaDevOpsEmbedded SystemsAvionicsPLCMechanical DesignElectrical EngineeringControlsTest AutomationLeadershipCommunicationFiber Optics

About the role

This is not a role for someone who wants to work inside a well-worn playbook.
We want engineers who are energized by the opportunity to shape how test automation is done across an entire organization.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
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.
Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably.
You will work at the intersection of software, electrical, and mechanical domains, collaborating with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver infrastructure that meets demanding timelines.
Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
2+ 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 a demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise there.
Comfort working across the full stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, and debugging hardware.

Nice to have

Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift, and end-to-end ownership of problems is expected.
Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks, rather than relying solely on vendor-provided stacks.
Advanced EtherCAT expertise beyond consumer-level usage - including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 language suite.
Experience designing deterministic, hard real-time control loops with sub-millisecond cycle times.
Strong intuition for when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration, and a clear understanding of the tradeoffs between the two.
Bare-metal or embedded firmware development experience.
Experience with Docker and DevOps tooling for test infrastructure deployment and reproducibility.

Skills

Our stack is intentionally modern and software-engineering-focused, including a custom PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling built in-house.

Compensation

Leveling and base salary are determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
$131,000 - $184,000 per year, commensurate with skills, experience, education, and performance.
Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement

Benefits

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

Company info

Low Earth orbit is open for business.
Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.
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.
From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space.
Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth.
Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.
Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley.
Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested.
Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

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.