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Propulsion Engineer II - Hardware and Bus Systems Verified today

Varda Space · El Segundo, CA · Propulsion · first seen 2026-09-10
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About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. 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 payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses.

Varda was founded in January 2021 and is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with offices and production facilities there, plus offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

About This Role

As Propulsion Engineer II, you will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem and hardware across Varda's spacecraft fleet. You will own and maintain the system architecture, generate analysis products, perform component sizing, develop propulsion software tools, review data, execute detailed mechanical design, conduct subsystem test, support operations, and more for vehicles 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 directly contributes to current and future vehicle development. You will thrive in a hands-on environment, building technical breadth and 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 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 to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and partner 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 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 of hands-on hands-on spacecraft propulsion or cryogenic fluid system experience