Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer, Avionics

About the company

Varda operates in-orbit manufacturing capsules that use microgravity crystallization to produce pharmaceuticals and biologics, supports process engineering via a terrestrial lab and hyper-gravity screening, and manufactures spacecraft in-house.

About this role

<div class="content-intro"><h2><span data-contrast="none">About Varda</span></h2> <p>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.&nbsp;<strong>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.</strong></p> <p>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. &nbsp;</p> <p>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. &nbsp;</p> <p>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.&nbsp;</p> <p>Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.</p></div><h2 id="JobRequisitionFlightSoftwareEngineer-Requirements">What you will do (Job Responsibilities)</h2> <p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The Avionics Systems team has a comprehensive role overseeing the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for our Winnebago vehicle. We ensure that all systems are ready for both launch and operational phases, requiring a deep understanding of avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. This role involves close collaboration with various engineering teams, where you will navigate and resolve conflicting requirements to achieve seamless system integration. Your expertise will be crucial in ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry.&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Collaborate with cross functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from&nbsp;concept to prototype and full-scale production.<br></span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">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.<br></span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">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.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and HITL hardware, ensuring readiness&nbsp;for launch and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Participate in mission operations as an Avionics specialist or system operator, where you’ll determine system health, suggest corrective actions, and to reentry commit criteria for operational success.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Oversee the integration of the Winnebago avionics systems, acting as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission ready</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Develop avionics ground infrastructure, supporting the design and integration of test racks and R&amp;D equipment&nbsp;used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles. Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Draw from your experiences to help mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team.&nbsp;</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><br></span></li> </ul> <h2 id="JobRequisitionFlightSoftwareEngineer-BasicQualifications">What you will bring (Basic Qualifications)</h2> <ul> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Experience: At least 5 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Programming Skills: Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Technical Expertise: Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and&nbsp;general test equipment.&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <h2 id="JobRequisitionFlightSoftwareEngineer-NicetoHave">What would be a plus (Preferred Qualifications)</h2> <ul> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system level tests.&nbsp;</span></li> <li><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Familiarity with Unix environments and the ability t