Varda Space Industries · 7 hours ago
Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
El Segundo, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
4+ years expVarda Space Industries is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, focusing on in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules. The Senior Mechanisms Engineer will develop electromechanical flight hardware for multi-payload missions, collaborating with specialists to ensure rapid hardware delivery and performance in rigorous environments.
AerospaceManufacturingProduct Design
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Own multi-payload missions from concept through design, integration, launch, reentry, and recovery
Lead the design of mechanisms, structures, thermal/fluid interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies
Independently perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (hand calcs, python/matlab models, and FEA as needed)
Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware
Coordinate cross-functional inputs (avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration)
Serve as primary technical interface for multi-payload missions or complex payload development
Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation
Lead mission operations and post-flight teardown
Lead incorporation of lessons learned and continuous improvement
Mentor entry-level engineers and interns
Qualification
Required
BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field
4+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
Strong mechanical expertise with breadth in at least one adjacent discipline (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.)
Experience delivering hardware into rigorous environments (aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, etc.)
Ability to independently define tasks, manage schedules, and deliver integrated hardware
Excellent cross-discipline communication skills
Preferred
Prior full cycle ownership of space flight hardware
Experience integrating electromechanical actuators, sensors, thermal control hardware and/or fluid control hardware
Experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
Customer-facing technical communication experience
Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
Benefits
Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
401(k) matching (interns excluded)
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)
Company
Varda Space Industries
Varda is building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$328.02MKey Investors
Alumni VenturesCaffeinated CapitalKhosla Ventures
2025-07-10Series C· $187M
2024-12-19Series C
2024-04-05Series B· $90M
Leadership Team
Will Bruey
Chief Executive Officer
Recent News
Business Insider
2025-12-25
2025-12-17
Company data provided by crunchbase