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Terrestrial Automation & Controls Engineer II Verified today

Varda Space · El Segundo, CA · Space Systems · first seen 2026-10-12
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About Varda

Varda is developing commercial space infrastructure for in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reliable reentry capsules. The W-Series vehicles and all subsystems, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses, are designed and operated by Varda in-house.

About This 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. The stack is modern, including a custom PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling built in-house. You will have meaningful impact on architecture decisions and define standards that will outlast any single program.

Responsibilities

  • Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
  • Integrate with a wide range of 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 that meets their needs 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.
  • 2+ 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 there.
  • 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, and a strong understanding of the tradeoff.
  • Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks, rather than relying solely on vendor-provided stacks.
  • Advanced EtherCAT expertise, including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
  • Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader 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, InfluxDB, or similar platforms.
  • Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development.
  • Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
  • Hands-on experience working 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 proposed solutions for reducing safety-related risks.

Compensation and Location

  • Salary range: $119,543-$152,749 per year.
  • On-site in El Segundo, California.
  • Leveling and base salary determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
  • Eligible for stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

US Person Requirement

Due to exposure to export-controlled items, Varda only hires US persons: U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or individuals admitted to the U.S. as refugees or granted asylum.