Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer Verified today

About Varda

Varda accelerates commercial space infrastructure development, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable reentry capsules. Varda's W-Series vehicles are built, designed and operated in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, reentry capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, California with offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

The Role

As a Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer, you will own the end-to-end mission success for a diverse portfolio of payloads, including both internally designed payloads and hosted customer payloads. Example payloads may include inertial, RF, or optical sensors or communication systems, as well as various types of pharmaceutical processing equipment and instrumentation.

You will serve as the technical bridge between each payload and the Varda vehicle, defining interfaces, planning and executing integration and test campaigns, coordinating in-orbit operations, and ensuring safe recovery of payload data and hardware. When payloads require special accommodations or vehicle modifications, you will work across the vehicle engineering team to scope and implement these changes.

Responsibilities

• Act as responsible engineer for assigned payloads from initial scoping through post-flight data delivery, for both in-house pharma payloads and hosted customer payloads
• Work with payload providers to scope and define payload-to-vehicle interfaces, capture requirements in ICDs and coordinate any special accommodations or vehicle changes with related engineering disciplines
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for external payload customers throughout the mission lifecycle (early-stage scoping through deorbit and recovery)
• Plan and execute payload-level integration and test activities, including incoming inspection, functional checkouts, and environmental testing (vibration, EMI/EMC, TVAC), plus payload-specific verifications such as leak testing or pharmaceutical process testing
• Coordinate with Vehicle I&T engineers to plan and execute full-vehicle test activities (e.g., payload installation, system compatibility and vehicle-in-the-loop mission scenario testing)
• Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues that arise during integration and test activities
• Work with mission operations engineers to define payload flight operations, command sequences, and operations procedures, and support on-console operations as needed to accomplish mission objectives
• Drive lessons learned from each mission into interface documentation, payload accommodation guides, and integration processes

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, Systems Engineering, or other relevant field
• 2+ years of experience integrating and testing spacecraft, payloads, or comparably complex electro-mechanical hardware
• First-principles problem solving and broad system-level thinking
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable working hands-on in a cleanroom with critical flight hardware. Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs. Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing while working directly with hardware on the floor

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating hosted or customer-furnished payloads onto a spacecraft or launch vehicle
• Experience developing and managing interface control documents, requirements, and verification/validation plans
• Hands-on experience with aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC) and familiarity with standards such as GSFC-STD-7000 and SMC-S-016
• Exposure to pharmaceutical, biotech, or other regulated-industry hardware and quality practices
• Working knowledge of export control regulations (ITAR/EAR) as applied to technical exchanges with external parties

Compensation and Location

Salary range: $119,543 to $152,749 per year. 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 incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Benefits

Regular full-time employees receive comprehensive benefits including flexible PTO plus 12 paid holidays, 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options, voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness and pet insurance, $120/month wellness reimbursement, 12 weeks of parental leave, family building and parenting benefits via Maven Clinic, sponsored One Medical memberships, substantial incentive equity, 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested), and $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.