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Varda Space

In-orbit manufacturing with reentry return services

Manufacturing Engineer 2 - Propulsion

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

About the Job

Requirements

  • A B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or a related discipline is required, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience; the posting describes this as typically 1–3+ years.
  • At least 1 year of manufacturing experience with propulsion systems, fluid systems, or high-pressure hardware in aerospace or a related industry is required.
  • Hands-on experience with tube fabrication, tube bending, tube fitting installation, and high-pressure fluid system assembly is required.
  • Familiarity with propulsion system cleanliness requirements, cleanliness verification methods, and contamination control procedures is required.
  • Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, P&IDs, and assembly models for fluid systems is required.
  • Ability to diagnose propulsion build defects and drive corrective action to closure using first-principles problem-solving is required.
  • Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 pounds, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware.
  • Only U.S. persons who are lawfully authorized to work in the United States and permitted to access the technology without an export license may be hired.

Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end manufacturing processes for propulsion system production, including valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration.
  • Develop and maintain work instructions, process traveler documents, and process specifications for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware.
  • Provide technical direction to improve propulsion build processes and increase vehicle production cadence.
  • Implement and enforce propulsion-specific cleanliness protocols, contamination control procedures, and propellant compatibility requirements.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for propulsion non-conformances, including leak events, contamination findings, and assembly defects.
  • Define tooling and test equipment requirements for tube shop operations, leak checks, and propulsion acceptance testing.
  • Collaborate with design engineers and supply chain to prevent schedule delays and resolve incoming hardware quality issues.
  • Refine propulsion work cell layouts and product flow to support increased cadence and concurrent vehicle builds.

Desired Qualifications

  • An M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering specialized in Fluid Mechanics, Process Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Experience manufacturing and assembling propulsion systems for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or hypersonic vehicles, including valve assembly and pressure vessel integration.
  • Experience with high-pressure fluid systems testing or qualification of assemblies, including energetics and explosives.
  • Experience with metals, composites, and plastics used in propulsion systems.
  • Experience with propulsion-relevant manufacturing methods, including welding, orbital welding, machining, and additive manufacturing.
  • Experience with nondestructive examination, including ultrasonic testing, dye penetrant, and X-ray methods.
  • Prior work transitioning propulsion assemblies from development to production environments with increasing build rates.
  • Familiarity with hazardous materials handling and safety protocols associated with propellant loading and propulsion acceptance testing.

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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