About this Role The Systems, Integration, and Test team is a multidisciplinary team working across the full lifecycle of satellite development from defining requirements through systems test. The team is responsible for each vehicle and ensures all systems are ready for launch and operations. This is a leadership role within the Systems, Integration, and Test team that will drive the processes and playbooks to consistently deliver robust and evolving vehicles to space.
Responsibilities - Mentor and manage a team of engineers, including hiring and performance management
- Own engineering development roadmap to sustain increasing flight cadence
- Lead team to develop vehicle integration and test campaigns to ensure flight readiness
- Manage the technical outcome and milestone schedule to enable the delivery of vehicles on schedule
- Develop frameworks to evaluate vehicle change impacts and drive execution of vehicle-level change implementation
- Stay hands-on with vehicle integration and test - get out on the floor and execute with the team when necessary
Basic Qualifications - B.S. degree in engineering, physics, or related field and 5+ years of experience in systems, integration, and/or test engineering
- Experience with mentoring team members and comfortable in providing feedback to support professional or technical growth.
- Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment
- Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries
- Strong first principles thinking and technical breadth across relevant fields (structures, electronics, propulsion, software, etc.)
- Technical depth in electronics, fluid propulsion, and/or systems engineering
PreferredSkills and Experience - Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project
- Experience developing and communicating project technical roadmaps
- Experience with one or more general-purpose programming languages, such as C++ & Python
- Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.)
- Unigraphics NX experience or similar CAD software
Pay Range- Salary range: $170,000 - $198,000/per year
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
- Leveling and 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
BenefitsVarda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well-being, and a high-quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full-time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):
Health & Wellness- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans 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 expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement - Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 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 & Perks - 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
- Dog-friendly office space
