Varda Space
Propulsion Components Engineer
$140K–$232K
El Segundo, California, United States · Full-time · Posted Oct 6, 2026
- Experience
- 3+ years for the core component experience requirement; typically 6+ years for Principal. Senior salary band is associated with typically 3–6+ years; Principal with typically 6–10+ years.
- Education
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered.
- Visa sponsorship
- Only hire U.S. persons permitted to access the company's export-controlled technology without an export license: U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
About the job
Own and develop propulsion fluid components for Varda spacecraft, from design and supplier qualification through testing, production, integration, and flight support.
What you'll do
- Own a portion of the propulsion component portfolio and manage requirements, development, qualification, production, and flight readiness.
- Design in-house components, qualify purchased hardware, and lead supplier technical coordination and corrective actions.
- Execute component testing and support vehicle integration, operations, and investigations of nonconformances or anomalies.
What they ask for
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered.
- 3+ years designing, qualifying, or owning fluid components for spacecraft, launch vehicles, or comparable high-pressure hardware; typically 6+ years for Principal.
- Mechanical design proficiency including CAD, PLM, GD&T per ASME Y14.5, and tolerance analysis.
- Experience with pressure and leak testing and ATP/QTP execution per SMC-S-016 or equivalent; hands-on pressurized hardware testing and technical ownership of corrective actions.
Nice to have
- 6+ years of spacecraft or launch vehicle fluid component experience, including clean-sheet design through qualification and flight; typically 6–10+ years for Principal.
- Experience with low-leakage on-orbit propulsion components, HTP or other strong oxidizers, or high-pressure gas systems.
Pay
$140,333 – $179,314 USD per year (base salary, Senior); $181,913 – $232,444 USD per year (base salary, Principal)
Tools
CAD, PLM, GD&T, ASME Y14.5, SMC-S-016, HTP, FEA, RTDs
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative