Senior Design Engineer
$130k - $170k USD
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.
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
At Varda Space Industries, we’re pioneering in-space manufacturing to advance humanity’s presence in space. Varda is seeking a versatile Senior Design Engineer to lead the creation and management of vehicle hardware designs while managing and optimizing essential CAD system infrastructure. This role blends hands-on design with responsibilities to enhance our Siemens NX and Teamcenter environment, ensuring consistency and efficiency across engineering teams. If you’re passionate about aerospace design, collaboration, and empowering others, this is your opportunity to make a transformative impact.
This is a full-time, exempt position located at our El Segundo headquarters.
Responsibilities- Create and manage 3D models, 2D technical drawings, and large CAD assemblies for spacecraft hardware using Siemens NX, adhering to ASME Y14.5 standards.
- Ownership of the overall bill of materials (BOM), vehicle configuration, and hardware release process.
- Design tooling, jigs and fixtures to support in-house build and integration activities.
- Collaborate directly with part owners on new flight and MGSE hardware design projects.
- Codify design for manufacturability (DFM) best practices and provide feedback on hardware designs.
- Collaborate with engineering leads to define, implement and maintain CAD standards, templates, and libraries in Siemens NX to ensure consistency across design teams.
- Train and mentor CAD users (designers, engineers) on NX and Teamcenter best practices, boosting team productivity.
- Update existing designs through engineering change notices to support rapid iteration and project goals.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or related engineering field with 5+ years of design experience using Siemens NX and Teamcenter.
- Advanced proficiency in 3D modeling, design for manufacturability (DFM), and 2D technical drawing creation, adhering to ASME Y14.5 standards.
- Experience creating and managing large CAD assemblies.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills to work across engineering teams.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Expertise in diverse NX design techniques, including tube routing, harness routing and surface modeling.
- Experience enhancing CAD environments by developing templates, libraries, or workflows within NX or Teamcenter.
- Familiarity with collaborating on CAD system customization, such as working with vendors or internal IT to refine workflows or incorporate enhanced functionality.
- Strong organizational skills to manage multiple design projects and system support tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency with mechanical engineering design, manufacturing and basic analysis practices.
- Familiarity working with production teams to generate manufacturing bill of materials (mBOM).
Pay Range
- $130,000 - $170,000 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.
ITAR Requirements
-
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. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)
Learn more about the ITAR here.
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)
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice