Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer Verified today
About Varda
Varda is developing commercial space infrastructure for in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reliable reentry capsules. The company builds W-Series vehicles in-house including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California with offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
About This Role
The Senior Mission Operations Engineer is an experienced spacecraft operator who leads on-orbit operations for Varda's Winnie Spaceship. You will own the full lifecycle of mission-unique payload operations, from mission profile creation through execution. You are an exceptional communicator and cross-discipline engineer capable of applying engineering expertise to bespoke solutions.
Responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead Varda's on-orbit missions
- Own the full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads, from creation of mission profiles through execution
- Work with teams across the company to continuously improve mission operations and ensure mission success
- Automate and eliminate operational burden by building webtools
- Scale up Varda's operational capabilities to support growing flight cadence
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, preferably Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science
- 5 or more years of experience in a real-time operations role on a complex and high-consequence operation
- 3 or more years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML
- Familiarity with Avionics, GNC, Software, and Thermal design practices for spacecraft
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 5 or more years of experience with spacecraft systems
- Previous operator experience in a leadership role
- Previous in-orbit spacecraft operations experience
- Previous experience with Git and Atlassian products
- Familiarity with ground stations networks
Compensation and Location
Salary range: $140,333 to $179,314 per year. This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA. Base salary is 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.
Benefits
Health and Wellness: Flexible PTO policy plus 12 paid holidays. 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options. Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance. $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness. 12 weeks of parental leave plus supplemental disability leave for California mothers. Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic. Sponsored One Medical memberships.
Financial and Retirement: Substantial incentive equity. 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match, immediately vested. $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement. Relocation support for new hires, if needed.
Workplace Experience: Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly. Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and mission-success celebrations. Complimentary EV charging.
ITAR and Export Control
Varda employees are exposed to and have access to export-controlled items. We hire only U.S. persons permitted to access our 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 to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
Varda participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program.