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Varda Space

In-orbit manufacturing with reentry return services

Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Engineer 2

AerodynamicsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours
Full-timeEl Segundo, CA, USA

About the Job

Requirements

  • A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or physics and at least 3 years of relevant industry experience, or a relevant PhD and at least 1 year of relevant industry experience.
  • Meaningful contribution to the aerodynamic development of a hypersonic vehicle that has flown or is on track to fly within the next 5 years.
  • Experience analyzing aerodynamic data from testing, computational fluid dynamics, flight, and other sources and rigorously documenting findings.
  • Experience running computational fluid dynamics and direct simulation Monte Carlo simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows using tools such as Fun3D, LAURA, DPLR, US3D, SPARTA, DAC, and CBAero.
  • Ability to build structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise.
  • Proficiency in MATLAB or Python.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex aeroscience findings to cross-disciplinary audiences.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government-issued security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Own aerodynamic and aeroheating database development across the full flight envelope, from free-molecular rarefied entry through hypersonic maneuvering to subsonic terminal approach, and provide authoritative aeroscience input to guidance, navigation, and control, thermal protection system sizing, and mission analysis.
  • Plan, execute, and reduce data from wind tunnel campaigns; reconcile ground test results with computational fluid dynamics predictions; and update vehicle databases with traceable, well-documented revisions.
  • Run high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics and direct simulation Monte Carlo simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows using tools such as Fun3D, LAURA, DPLR, US3D, SPARTA, DAC, and CBAero, and build structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise.
  • Characterize static and dynamic stability, develop six-degrees-of-freedom simulation inputs, and contribute to flight rules and vehicle-level performance models.
  • Synthesize aerodynamic evidence from computational fluid dynamics, wind tunnel testing, and flight telemetry into a coherent, traceable database supporting guidance, navigation, and control, thermal protection system sizing, and mission analysis.
  • Lead post-flight aerodynamic reconstruction and performance assessments, identify where preflight predictions diverged from actual performance, and drive model updates for future missions.
  • Collaborate with guidance, navigation, and control, structures, thermal protection systems, and mission planning teams to deliver flight-ready aeroscience products and represent aerodynamics in cross-discipline design discussions.

Desired Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in Aerospace Engineering or Mechanical Engineering, specializing in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics.
  • Hands-on wind tunnel campaign experience, including test planning, execution, and data reduction.
  • Direct ownership of aerodynamic and aeroheating databases for a flying vehicle.
  • Familiarity with modeling vehicle dynamics in POST2 or similar six-degrees-of-freedom tools.
  • Experience sizing ablative or non-ablative thermal protection systems.
  • Experience with flight reconstruction and post-flight performance evaluations.
  • Technical breadth in adjacent disciplines such as guidance, navigation, and control, avionics, software, and structures.

About the Company

Varda Space

In-orbit manufacturing with reentry return services

Varda Space Industries provides in-space manufacturing by operating production facilities in low Earth orbit and returning finished goods to Earth using reentry capsules. Clients send materials or designs to Varda’s in-orbit production line, where microgravity enables manufacturing processes not possible on Earth. After production, capsules re-enter Earth's atmosphere to deliver goods back to customers, supported by in-orbit equipment and reliable reentry systems. The company aims to make low Earth orbit accessible for multiple industries by building end-to-end space manufacturing infrastructure and industrializing orbit for commercial use.

Company size
201-500
Company stage
Series D
Total funding
$609.5M
Headquarters
El Segundo, CA
Founded
2020

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