Manager, Vehicle Systems Integration & Test Verified today

About Varda

Varda is building commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules. The W-Series vehicles are designed, built, and operated in-house, including pharmaceutical payloads, capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses.

About this Role

The Vehicle Systems, Integration, and Test team works across the full lifecycle of satellite development, from defining requirements through systems test. This leadership role will drive processes and playbooks to consistently deliver robust and evolving vehicles to space.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and manage a team of engineers, including hiring and performance management
• Own engineering development roadmap to sustain increasing flight cadence
• Lead team to develop vehicle integration and test campaigns to ensure flight readiness
• Manage the technical outcome and milestone schedule to enable delivery of vehicles on schedule
• Develop frameworks to evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of vehicle-level change implementation
• Stay hands-on with vehicle integration and test - get out on the floor and execute with the team when necessary

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test engineering
• Experience with mentoring team members and comfortable in providing feedback to support professional or technical growth
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries
• Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (structures, electronics, propulsion, software, etc.)
• Technical depth in electronics, fluid propulsion, and/or systems engineering

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project
• Experience developing and communicating project technical roadmaps
• Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as C++ and Python
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.)
• Unigraphics NX experience or similar CAD software

Compensation and Workplace

• Salary range: $170,280 to $245,960 per year
• On-site in El Segundo, California
• Eligible for stock options and/or long-term cash awards
• Leveling and base salary determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance

US Person Requirement

This position requires US person status due to access to export-controlled items. 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).