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Propulsion Engineer II - Hardware and Bus Systems Verified today

Varda Space · El Segundo, CA · Propulsion · first seen 2026-09-03
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About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda accelerates commercial space infrastructure: in-orbit pharmaceutical processing, reentry capsules, and complete satellite buses built, designed, and operated in-house.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to powerful fiber optics, products that can only be manufactured in space are manufactured on Earth today. Varda creates both the products and infrastructure for the orbital economy. The team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies, and Silicon Valley.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with offices and production facilities for build, integration, and test. Additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

The Role

As Propulsion Engineer II - Hardware & Bus Systems, you will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem and propulsion hardware across Varda's fleet of spacecraft. You will help own and maintain system architecture, generate analysis products, perform component sizing, develop propulsion software tools, review data, execute detailed mechanical design, lead subsystem test, and support operations for vehicles both on the ground and in orbit.

You will take ownership of assigned systems and work products within a fast-moving interdisciplinary engineering team. Your work will directly contribute to the development of current and future vehicles key to Varda's growth. You'll thrive in a hands-on environment, building technical breadth and steadily raising the bar on everything you touch.

Responsibilities

  • Support and maintain the Varda spacecraft propulsion system technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation
  • Design, analyze, and test Varda satellite bus propulsion flight hardware and components
  • Help scope and execute propulsion system block upgrades on operational vehicles, inclusive of both schematic and hardware changes, to increase reliability and launch cadence
  • Support definition of requirements and high-level propulsion architecture for future Varda vehicles; contribute to project plans, roadmaps, and milestones
  • Generate propulsion performance analysis products and document key requirements (propellant budgets, pressure ladders, fluid component sizing, structural and thermal limits); deliver outputs as key inputs to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and other cross-disciplinary teams
  • Build Python scripts and spreadsheet tools to automate recurring analysis and test data review workflows
  • Execute detailed mechanical design of propulsion hardware and fluid system components; perform structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools
  • Author and review design documentation, engineering specs, build/integration/test procedures, and engineering memos
  • Support in-flight propulsion operations, including console support under senior engineer oversight
  • Disposition hardware nonconformances; support anomaly investigations and contribute to corrective actions

Basic Qualifications

  • B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered (typically 1-3+ years)
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in propulsion or fluid systems design, build, and/or test for spacecraft or launch vehicles
  • Working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation
  • Ability to read P&IDs; experience authoring P&IDs is a plus
  • Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) and PLM software
  • Experience authoring or executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of assigned technical tasks and drive them to resolution

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • 3+ years in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion subsystem engineering