Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer Verified today
About Varda
Varda is building commercial space infrastructure for in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reliable reentry capsules. The W-Series vehicles, payloads, heat shields, and satellite buses are designed and operated in-house. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to advanced fiber optics, Varda creates both the products and infrastructure to expand the orbital economy.
About This Role
The Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer is an experienced spacecraft operator and leader. You will own on-orbit operations for our Winnie Spaceship and develop a unique mission framework for commercial space operations in a startup environment.
Responsibilities
- Develop, coordinate, execute, and lead Varda's on-orbit missions
- Own the full ops development cycle for mission-unique payloads, from mission profiles through execution
- Work with cross-company teams to continuously improve mission operations and ensure success
- Automate and eliminate operational burden by building webtools
- Scale up Varda's operational capabilities to support growing flight cadence
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline, preferably Aerospace, Electrical, or Computer Science
- 5+ years of experience in a real time operations role on a complex and high consequence operation
- 3+ years of experience developing software tools in Python, JavaScript, and/or HTML
- Familiarity with Avionics, GNC, Software, and Thermal design practices for spacecraft
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ 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 station networks
Compensation
Salary range: $140,333 to $179,314 per year, determined by job-related skills, education, experience, and performance. Eligible for stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
Work Location
On-site in El Segundo, California.
ITAR Requirements
This role requires US person status as defined by ITAR regulations. Applicants must be a US citizen, US lawful permanent resident, or individual admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Varda participates in E-Verify employment eligibility verification.