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Senior Payload Systems Integration & Test Engineer Verified today

Varda Space · El Segundo, CA · Payload · first seen 2026-09-30
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About Varda

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

About This Role

As Senior Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer, you will own end-to-end mission success for a diverse portfolio of payloads, including internally designed payloads and hosted customer payloads. Example payloads include inertial, RF, or optical sensors; communication systems; 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.

Key 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 understand mission objectives, derive detailed requirements, and capture interfaces in formal Interface Control Documents (ICDs)
  • Formulate executable project plans for ambiguous mission concepts, working with other engineering disciplines to scope and implement non-standard accommodations
  • Serve as primary technical point of contact for external payload customers throughout the mission lifecycle
  • Plan and execute payload-level integration and test activities, including incoming inspection, functional checkouts, environmental testing (vibration, EMI/EMC, TVAC), and payload-specific verifications such as leak testing or pharmaceutical process testing
  • Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve technical issues during integration and test
  • Work with mission operations engineers to define payload flight operations, command sequences, and operations procedures
  • Support on-console operations to accomplish mission objectives
  • Drive continued evolution of standard payload interfaces, accommodations, and integration workflow
  • Serve as technical resource across the team, reviewing others' work and mentoring earlier-career engineers

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, Systems Engineering, or other relevant field
  • 5 or more years of experience integrating and testing spacecraft, payloads, or comparably complex electro-mechanical hardware
  • Experience as named responsible engineer for at least one payload or comparable hardware element through a full program cycle, including flight or equivalent end use
  • Experience developing and managing Interface Control Documents, requirements, and verification and validation plans
  • Demonstrated ability to carry multiple hardware efforts concurrently against fixed schedule milestones
  • Wide technical background with knowledge in two or more of the following: structures, thermal management, electronics, embedded software, optics, RF systems, GNC, communication systems, fluid systems
  • 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
  • Hands-on experience with aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC) and associated test standards (e.g., GSFC-STD-7000 and SMC-S-016)
  • Experience working with external partners or customers to define interfaces and coordinate joint execution
  • Exposure to pharmaceutical, biomedical, or other regulated-industry hardware and quality practices

Compensation and Work Location

  • Salary range: $140,333 to $202,703 per year
  • On-site in El Segundo, California
  • Base salary determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
  • Eligible for stock options and long-term cash awards

ITAR Requirements

Varda must ensure employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work. Employees are exposed to and have access to export-controlled items. Varda hires only U.S. persons who are permitted access to the company's technology without an export license.

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) (individual admitted as a refugee or granted asylum).