Principal Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads

The role

You will define and lead the development of complex electromechanical flight hardware for orbital and reentry missions. You will guide systems from concept through design, integration, testing, launch, and recovery.

What you will do

• Define architecture, requirements, and development plans for multi-payload or multi-mission systems
• Lead complex mechanism and electromechanical subsystem design efforts
• Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction
• Lead cross-functional project teams across avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration
• Represent Varda to senior internal leadership and external partners
• Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation
• Lead build, integration, testing, mission operations, recovery, and anomaly resolution
• Guide lessons-learned processes and influence payload development cycles
• Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices

Required qualifications

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field
• 7+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
• Deep mechanical expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.)
• Track record leading teams through full cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development
• Experience communicating with diverse technical and executive audiences, both internal and external

Nice to have

• 3+ years of cross-functional project leadership experience
• Significant experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
• Experience leading government-facing technical programs
• Active Secret or Top Secret clearance

Benefits

• Stock options
• Long-term cash awards

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual)
• Varda participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program

About the company

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, California.