Senior Propulsion Engineer - Hardware and Bus Systems

About Varda

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.

About This Role

As the Senior Propulsion Engineer – Hardware & Bus Systems, you will be a hands-on technical owner of  the  propulsion  sub system  and propulsion   hardware  across   Varda's  fleet of  satellite buses.  You will  be responsible for  propulsion system architecture, analysis products,  component  sizing,  propulsion software  tool development,  data review,  detailed  mechanical design, subsystem test, and operations both on the ground and in orbit  while working within an interdisciplinary engineering team .

Your work will directly influence the development of future vehicles and capabilities key to Varda’s growth.   You ’ll  thrive in a fast-moving environment, tak ing  full ownership of your systems and rais ing  the technical bar for everyone around you.  

Responsibilities

• Maintain the Varda spacecraft propulsion system technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation 
• Design, analyze, and test Varda satellite bus propulsion flight hardware and components 
• Identify opportunities and execute propulsion system block upgrades on operational vehicles, inclusive of both schematic and hardware changes, to increase reliability and cadence 
• Help define requirements and high-level propulsion architecture for future Varda vehicles; develop project plans with roadmaps, milestones, and drive cross-team alignment 
• Generate propulsion performance analysis products and document key requirements (propellant budgets, pressure ladders, fluid component sizing, structural & thermal limits, more) and deliver them as inputs to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and other cross-disciplinary partner teams 
• Build Python scripts and spreadsheet tools to automate recurring analysis and test data reduction workflows 
• Execute detailed mechanical design of propulsion hardware and fluid system components; perform structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools 
• Author and review design documentation, engineering specs, build/integration/test procedures, and engineering memos 
• Sit on console for in-flight propulsion operations 
• Serve as a technical authority to disposition hardware nonconformances.  Lead anomaly investigations and drive corrective actions to improve quality across the organization. 
• Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical reviewer for analysis products, design packages, and external deliverables 

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered (typically 3–6+ years)
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in  propulsion or fluid systems definition, design, build, and test for spacecraft or launch vehicles
• Deep working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation
• Proficiency reading and authoring P&IDs
• Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) and PLM software
• Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns, including console operations
• Demonstrated ability to drive anomaly investigations and technical problems to resolution across organizational boundaries 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 6+ years of years of spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion experience, including satellite bus-level propulsion architectures (monopropellant, bipropellant, cold gas systems) 
• Hands-on experience building Python scripts or spreadsheet tools to automate recurring propulsion analysis & data review workflows 
• Structural analysis experience using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools applied to propulsion or fluid system hardware 
• Experience generating and reviewing technical drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards 
• Experience with spacecraft-grade propellants including cryogenic, hypergolic, or high-test peroxide systems.  Working knowledge of cleanliness, handling, and safety requirements. 
• Test, launch site, or in-flight operational experience on spacecraft or launch vehicles. 
• Proficiency using 1D fluid modeling & analysis tools (GFSSP, REFPROP, other) 
• Experience developing & refining engineering standards, design guidelines, or analysis frameworks within a propulsion organization 
• Exceptional technical communication skills — precision and clarity in work instructions, engineering specifications, and engineering memos 
• Experience managing or mentoring technical contributors, formally or informally 

Pay Range

• Salary Range: Senior: $140,333 – $179,314/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

Benefits

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. 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  
• $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  

Financial & Retirement  

• 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 More like this