Manufacturing Engineer II (Propulsion) Verified today

About Varda

Varda is building commercial space infrastructure for in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reliable reentry. The W-Series vehicles, including propulsion systems, heat shields, and satellite buses, are designed and operated in-house. We manufacture products in space that benefit life on Earth.

About This Role

As Manufacturing Engineer II (Propulsion), you will scale manufacturing from bespoke vehicles to consistent, concurrent builds. You own propulsion system production: valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration. Working directly with design engineers and technicians, you implement incremental improvement for every vehicle produced.

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 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
• 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 and 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

• Salary: $119,543 to $152,749 per year
• Stock options and long-term cash awards eligible
• Leveling and base salary determined by job-related skills, education, experience, and performance

Location and Requirements

This role is on-site in El Segundo, California. You must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or individual admitted as refugee or granted asylum) as employees have access to export-controlled items.