Manufacturing Engineer II (Propulsion) Verified today

About Varda

Varda accelerates commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are designed, built, and operated entirely in-house, including payloads, capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses.

The Role

As Manufacturing Engineer II (Propulsion), you will scale manufacturing from bespoke vehicles to many consistent concurrent builds. You will own manufacturing processes for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware from tube shop operations through acceptance testing, working directly with design engineers and technicians to implement incremental improvement on every vehicle.

Your Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end manufacturing processes for propulsion system production: 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 drive increased vehicle production cadence
• Implement and enforce propulsion-specific cleanliness protocols, contamination control procedures, and propellant compatibility requirements
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions (RCCA) 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 cadence increase and concurrent vehicle builds

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience (typically 1-3+ years)
• 3+ years of manufacturing experience with propulsion systems, fluid systems, or high-pressure hardware in aerospace or related industry
• Hands-on experience with tube fabrication, tube bending, tube fitting installation, and high-pressure fluid system assembly
• Familiarity with propulsion system cleanliness requirements, cleanliness verification methods, and contamination control procedures
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, P&IDs, and assembly models for fluid systems
• Strong first principles problem-solving capability; able to diagnose propulsion build defects and drive corrective action to closure
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware

Preferred Skills and Experience

• M.S. degree in Mechanical engineering specialized in Fluid Mechanics, Process Engineering, or 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 materials including metals, composites, and plastics for use in propulsion systems
• Experience with manufacturing methods relevant to propulsion systems, including welding, orbital welding, machining and additive manufacturing
• Experience with NDE, including ultrasonic testing, dye penetrant, X-ray and others
• Prior work transitioning propulsion assemblies from development to production environments with increasing build rate
• Familiarity with hazardous materials handling and safety protocols associated with propellant loading and propulsion acceptance testing

Compensation and Location

• Salary: $119,543-$152,749 per year
• On-site in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• Eligible for stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Benefits

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees and dependents, with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• $120/month wellness reimbursement
• 12 weeks of parental leave
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• Stock options and equity
• Relocation support for new hires
• Daily lunch and twice-weekly dinner provided
• Complimentary EV charging

ITAR Requirements

Varda hires only US persons who are permitted to access export-controlled 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) (individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).