Varda Space
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Integration)
$182K–$263K
El Segundo, California, United States · Principal · Full-time · Posted Oct 26, 2026
- Experience
- 6+ years in vehicle or system-level integration or final assembly; degree requirement typically considers 6–10+ years of equivalent professional experience.
- Education
- B.S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience. Preferred: M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering specialized in Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Control Theory, or similar, or related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience.
- Visa sponsorship
- Only hires “U.S. persons” permitted to access the company’s export-controlled technology without an export license; defined as U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals admitted as refugees or granted asylum.
About the job
Owns the processes, procedures, and cross-discipline coordination for spacecraft final assembly, from subsystem mating through vehicle closeout and acceptance.
What you'll do
- Develop and improve integration sequences, assembly travelers, and work instructions; coordinate interfaces across engineering disciplines.
- Lead readiness reviews, resolve assembly and interface issues, and drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions for integration non-conformances.
- Track integration metrics, improve production cadence, and define tooling and handling equipment requirements.
What they ask for
- B.S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- 6+ years in vehicle or system-level integration or final assembly in aerospace, defense, robotics, or similar industries.
- Experience developing and executing complex assembly or integration procedures; understanding of mechanical, electrical, and fluid subsystem interfaces.
- Able to regularly lift 25 lbs. and perform extended periods of bending, stooping, and standing while working with flight hardware.
Nice to have
- M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
- Lead integration experience on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program; familiarity with aerospace I&T, configuration management, cleanliness controls, and vehicle handling.
Pay
$181,913 - $262,763/per year (base salary)
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative