Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / Electromechanical / Harnessing) Verified today

About Varda

Varda is accelerating commercial space infrastructure development, building W-Series vehicles for in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reliable reentry capsules. All systems, from pharmaceutical payloads to heat shields and satellite buses, are designed and operated in-house.

About This Role

As Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / Electromechanical / Harnessing), you will scale production of spacecraft electromechanical assemblies including wire harness fabrication, connector installation, actuator integration, and cable routing. You will own manufacturing processes at the intersection of electrical and mechanical systems, ensuring every build meets Varda's quality and reliability standards.

This role requires a builder's mindset: you must be equally comfortable reviewing wiring diagrams, troubleshooting connector pinouts, and rewriting work instructions to prevent defects. Your focus is driving incremental, documented improvement across every vehicle produced.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end manufacturing and assembly processes for Varda payload systems, including pharmaceutical processing hardware, experiment modules, and customer-furnished payload equipment
• Develop and maintain detailed work instructions, assembly travelers, process specifications, and acceptance test procedures for payload fabrication and integration
• Serve as primary manufacturing interface for payload customers, translating requirements and Interface Control Document constraints into executable production processes
• Implement contamination control, cleanliness, and handling protocols for sensitive payload hardware, including pharmaceutical-grade and precision optical components
• Collaborate with payload design engineers to provide Design for Manufacturing and Design for Assembly feedback on assembly accessibility, connector placement, thermal interface design, and testability
• Define and execute payload acceptance testing, functional verification checkouts, and pre-integration inspections; maintain complete and traceable build records
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for payload non-conformances; coordinate Material Review Board dispositions with design engineering and payload customers
• Coordinate payload integration milestones with the vehicle integration team, ensuring payload readiness gates align with overall vehicle build schedule

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience (typically 6-10+ years)
• 6+ years manufacturing experience with electromechanical assemblies in electronics, aerospace, defense, or other high-reliability industries
• Demonstrated experience with wire harness fabrication, IPC/WHMA-A-620 standards, and connector assembly (D-sub, circular MIL-spec, coax)
• Strong first principles thinking: ability to trace build defects to root cause and design durable fixes for electrical and mechanical avionics problems
• Experience reading and interpreting electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and connector pinouts
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills; comfortable working directly with production technicians
• Ability to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods

Preferred Skills and Experience

• M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering (Embedded Systems, Microelectronics, RF or Control Systems) or related discipline
• Experience with spacecraft or launch vehicle electromechanical integration in production (not prototype) environments
• Familiarity with ESD control practices, grounding/bonding requirements, and cleanliness protocols for flight hardware
• Experience writing or revising work instructions and Material Review Board dispositions for electromechanical non-conformances
• Knowledge of cable routing in complex vehicle structures with thermal, vibration, and EMI constraints
• Hands-on experience with automated wire processing equipment or harness board tooling
• Background transitioning electromechanical assemblies from engineering development to rate production
• Experience with PDM/PLM systems (Windchill, Teamcenter, Arena) for electrical bill of materials configuration control
• Prior work at small-to-mid-size aerospace company where you owned outcomes end-to-end

Compensation and Location

• Salary Range: $181,913 - $262,763 per year
• Onsite in El Segundo, California
• 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

US Person Requirement

You must be a U.S. person to access export-controlled items. U.S. person means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (refugee or asylee status).