About this RoleAs a Mechanisms Engineer on Varda's Payload team, you will develop electromechanical flight hardware that operates in orbit, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for inspection and iteration. You will take full-stack responsibility for payloads across both pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbed missions-delivering flight hardware from concept through build, test, launch, and recovery.
You'll collaborate closely with internal specialists and external partners, translate engineering requirements into flight-ready designs, and perform hands-on integration and testing to deliver hardware that flies in months, not years. This role is ideal for engineers with strong mechanical fundamentals who want to grow their breadth across thermal, fluids, avionics, software, and integration while shipping real hardware to space and back.
Responsibilities- Own payload hardware from concept through design, integration, launch, reentry, and recovery
- Design mechanisms, structures, thermal/fluid interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies
- Run structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (hand calcs, simplified models, and FEA as needed)
- Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware
- Work across avionics, software, thermal, systems, and integration teams to define interfaces and ensure compatibility
- Serve as the primary technical point of contact for assigned payloads
- Generate documentation: requirements, ICDs, procedures, test reports
- Support mission operations and post-flight teardown
- Contribute to lessons learned and continuous improvement
Basic Qualifications- BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline
- Strong fundamentals in structures, heat transfer, fluids, and dynamics
- Hands-on experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
- Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines
Preferred Qualifications- Experience integrating electromechanical actuators, sensors, thermal control hardware and/or fluid control hardware
- Experience using CAD (NX preferred) and FEA (Ansys, Nastran)
- Exposure to aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
- Customer-facing technical communication experience
- Ability to obtain a government security clearance
Pay Range- Salary range:
- Engineer I: $104,000.00 - $122,000.00/per year
- Engineer II: $119,000.00 - $153,000.00/per year
- This role is on-sitein 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
