About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

Manager of Propulsion Systems

El Segundo, California, United States | Full-Time, On-Site

About This Role

As the Manager of Propulsion Systems, you will own the success of a critical subsystem within Varda's interdisciplinary engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for propulsion system architecture, analysis products, mechanical design, subsystem test, and operations both on the ground and in orbit. You will directly lead a team of propulsion systems engineers to own the responsibilities of the subsystem as Varda evolves designs and adds reliability to its systems through block upgrades. Your work will directly influence the development of future vehicles and capabilities key to Varda’s growth. The Manager of Propulsion Systems excels in technical leadership of propulsion systems and in working cross-functionally across engineering domains, mission assurance, production, and supply chain to establish the first routine industrial operations off our home planet.

Responsibilities

Own the spacecraft propulsion systems discipline and its interfaces end-to-end across the engineering organization and product lifecycle.
Set the technical direction for Varda propulsion systems. Expand team & subsystem capabilities through ongoing engineering developments, driving projects from concept through implementation and flight. Own vehicle piping & instrumentation diagrams, which directly define spacecraft capabilities in orbit.
Drive, define, and map interfaces with partner disciplines. Set team priorities, remove blockers, and ensure thorough coverage across all team deliverables as the program scales.
Lead, grow, and hire the propulsion systems team responsible for system development and operations, as well as the primary propulsion interface with GNC, software, structures, thermal, avionics, production, mission operations, and other partners.
Represent propulsion systems in cross-functional forums both internally and externally, while planning and executing major spacecraft testing campaigns and in-flight operations alongside your team.
Define and uphold a high technical bar by informing and applying Varda's interdisciplinary engineering standards to the propulsion systems team.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering field
6+ years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion — including design, build, and test of fluid systems or propulsion subsystems
Demonstrated ability to lead people: prior experience formally or informally managing, mentoring, or technically leading a team of engineers
Deep technical understanding of spacecraft propulsion subsystems, including fluid system components, P&IDs, pressurized hardware, and propellant handling
History of collaborating effectively across organizational boundaries and driving to multi-disciplinary technical solutions through a pragmatic systems engineering approach
Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight operations
Proficiency with CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) software

Preferred Skills & Experience

8+ years in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, with breadth across design, analysis, test, and operations
Prior formal management experience: hiring, performance management, and team development
Experience with satellite bus propulsion architectures, including monopropellant/bipropellant systems, cold gas systems, and similar
Familiarity with fluid systems performance analysis tools and methods
Background in defining and enforcing engineering standards or design guidelines for a propulsion organization
Launch site processing of spaceflight hardware, or flight operations experience
Exceptional communication skills: ability to translate technical complexity into clear direction for your team and clear status for leadership

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $175,000 – $200,000 per year

Leveling and base salary are determined by job-related skills, education, experience, and performance. You’ll also be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

👥 Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
🚀 Equity in a fully funded space startup with serious growth potential
💰 401(k) matching
🏖️ Unlimited PTO
🏥 Health, vision, and dental insurance
🍱 Daily lunch and snacks on site; dinners twice a week
👶 Maternity/Paternity leave

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)
Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits

Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
401(k) matching (interns excluded)
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the

Manager of Propulsion Systems

About Varda

ITAR Requirements

Benefits

E-Verify Statement

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Varda Space Industries