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Senior Automation and Controls Engineer II Verified today

Varda Space · El Segundo, CA · Space Systems · first seen 2026-10-07
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About Varda

Varda is accelerating commercial space infrastructure. We design and operate the W-Series vehicles in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, reentry capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. We are creating both the products and infrastructure needed to expand the economic bounds of humankind through in-orbit manufacturing.

The Role

You will build bespoke test infrastructure that qualifies spaceflight hardware for orbit. You design, build, and own sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems: propulsion test stands, environmental qualification chambers, spacecraft-level integration testing and more. Our stack is modern, including a custom PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling built in-house. You will have a meaningful impact on architecture decisions and the chance to define standards that will outlast any single program.

Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
  • Integrate with external hardware including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
  • Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
  • Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) versus Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications.
  • Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning.
  • Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure on aggressive timelines.
  • Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical field.
  • 5+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
  • Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar communication standards.
  • Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3), or demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise.
  • Comfort working across the full stack: designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, debugging hardware, and writing control software.
  • Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift and end-to-end ownership of problems is expected.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Strong intuition for when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration.
  • Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks.
  • Advanced EtherCAT expertise including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
  • Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and IEC 61131-3 language suite.
  • Experience designing deterministic, hard real-time control loops with sub-millisecond cycle times.
  • Familiarity with time-series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana or InfluxDB.
  • Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development.
  • Environmental test experience including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
  • Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems.
  • Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi-subsystem test infrastructure.
  • Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and associated documentation requirements.
  • Experience developing safety-related control systems and evaluating solutions for reducing safety-related risks.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary range: $140,333 to $179,314 per year. This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA. Leveling and base salary are 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.

Full-time benefits include flexible PTO plus 12 paid holidays, 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees and dependents, voluntary accident/hospital/critical illness insurance, $120/month wellness reimbursement, 12 weeks parental leave, 401(k) with 6% employer match (immediately vested), $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement, relocation support, daily lunch and twice-weekly dinner, and complimentary EV charging.

ITAR Requirement

Varda employees have access to export-controlled items. You must be a US person: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).