engineer

Mission Assurance Engineer

About Varda

The environment of space hold the potential to craft products that profoundly enhance life on Earth. Varda is at the forefront of this endeavor, harnessing the unique environment of low earth orbit to produce these innovations and reintroduce them to our world. Our mission transcends mere exploration; we’re expanding the economic horizons of humanity.

At Varda, you’ll be positioned at the nexus of ambition and expertise. Our seasoned team, with its rich legacy in aerospace and technology, has honed its skills in the corridors of industry giants. Here, your contributions will be both cherished and critiqued by leaders who, with a wealth of experience behind them, are now devoted to the realm of extraterrestrial manufacturing.

While our aspirations soar high, our path is grounded in technical pragmatism and operational viability. Our conceptual operations are crystalline material processing and reentry, backed by years of research and development anchored in the International Space Station’s, and commercial space sectors expansive achievements.

Join Varda, and work to finally create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

 

About This Role

The Mission Assurance Engineer will partner with Varda’s design and manufacturing teams through the entire product development lifecycle for flight hardware while supporting the FAA and range safety licensing processes. This includes identification of key design characteristics, development testing for manufacturability or reliability, detailed acceptance or qualification test planning, mission safety, and operations. In addition, the mission assurance engineer will support the development of flight safety analyses and verification artifacts for all phases of the mission. You will use your skills to ensure spacecraft reliability and mission success.

Responsibilities

  • Produce orbital analysis and simulate failure modes for commercial reentry vehicles, in support of vehicle level safety deliverables
  • Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns 
  • Develop, implement, and validate test and inspection processes for new and existing products and processes
  • Develop and improve program by use of subsystem criticality, failure modes and effects analysis, requirements compliance matrix tools to identify failure modes and the mitigations to ensure adequate coverage, change management, and optimize effects on production
  • Responsible for vehicle level deliverables for regulatory bodies including requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence for the FAA, FCC, or Air Force Range
  • Responsible for vehicle level risk management and execution of program risk posture, execution, and identifying mitigation strategies

Basic Qualifications

  • Minimum 3 years professional experience in an aerospace, design, quality, or similar engineering role
  • Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or material sciences engineering
  • Experience with integration of interdisciplinary systems in the aerospace industry
  • Strong computer skills with demonstrated ability in a programming language
  • Professional experience in a role requiring programming skills, including familiarity with MATLAB.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Master’s degree in aerospace, mechanical, materials, or electrical engineering
  • Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, and enthusiasm for Varda’s spirit of innovation and drive for improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
  • Full project lifecycle ownership experience (cradle-to-grave)
  • Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
  • Knowledge of quality tools such as measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem-solving approaches
  • Dedicated to adopting a lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability

Pay Range

  • Salary range: $100,000 – $180,000
  • 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 long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
  • Offer compensation also includes the ability to purchase company stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

 

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 to working by your side
  • Working in El Segundo, CA – an awesome Southern California beach city with quick access to entertainment and outdoor activities
  • 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

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