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Varda Space

In-orbit manufacturing with reentry return services

Principal Manufacturing Engineer - Multiple Teams

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

About the Job

Requirements

  • A B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience, typically 6–10+ years.
  • At least 6 years of manufacturing experience with electromechanical assemblies in electronics, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries.
  • Demonstrated experience with wire harness fabrication, IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, and connector assembly, such as D-sub, circular MIL-spec, and coaxial connectors.
  • Ability to trace build defects to root causes and design durable fixes for electrical and mechanical problems relevant to avionics and electromechanical assembly.
  • Experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and connector pinouts.
  • Ability to regularly lift 25 pounds, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods.

Responsibilities

  • Own end-to-end manufacturing and assembly processes for payload systems, including pharmaceutical processing hardware, experiment modules, and customer-furnished payload equipment.
  • Develop and maintain work instructions, assembly travelers, process specifications, and acceptance test procedures for payload fabrication and integration operations.
  • Serve as the primary manufacturing interface for payload customers, translating customer requirements and Interface Control Document constraints into executable production processes.
  • Implement contamination control, cleanliness, and handling protocols for sensitive payload hardware, including pharmaceutical-grade and precision optical components.
  • Collaborate with payload design engineers to provide design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly feedback on assembly accessibility, connector placement, thermal interface design, and testability.
  • Define and execute payload acceptance testing, functional verification checkouts, and pre-integration inspections, and maintain complete, traceable build records.
  • Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for payload non-conformances; coordinate Material Review Board dispositions with design engineering and, where applicable, payload customers.
  • Coordinate payload integration milestones with the vehicle integration team and ensure payload readiness gates align with the overall vehicle build schedule.

Desired Qualifications

  • A Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, specializing in Embedded Systems, Microelectronics, radio frequency, or Control Systems, or a related discipline.
  • Experience with spacecraft or launch vehicle electromechanical integration in a production environment, rather than only a prototype environment.
  • Familiarity with electrostatic discharge control practices, grounding and bonding requirements, and cleanliness protocols for flight hardware.
  • Experience writing or revising work instructions and Material Review Board dispositions for electromechanical non-conformances.
  • Knowledge of cable routing in complex vehicle structures subject to thermal, vibration, and electromagnetic interference constraints.
  • Hands-on experience with automated wire processing equipment or harness board tooling.
  • Background transitioning electromechanical assemblies from engineering development to rate production.
  • Experience with Product Data Management or Product Lifecycle Management systems, such as Windchill, Teamcenter, or Arena, for configuration control of electrical bills of materials.
  • Prior work at a small-to-mid-size aerospace company involving multiple responsibilities and end-to-end ownership.

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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