Varda Space
Senior Payload Systems Integration & Test Engineer
$140K–$203K
El Segundo, California, United States · Senior · Full-time · Posted Sep 29, 2026
- Experience
- 5+ years; responsible-engineer experience through a full program cycle is also required.
- Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, Systems Engineering, or another relevant field.
- Visa sponsorship
- Only hires U.S. persons permitted to access the company's technology without an export license: U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals admitted as refugees or granted asylum.
About the job
Owns end-to-end integration, testing, and mission success for in-house and customer payloads, coordinating interfaces, vehicle accommodations, operations, and recovery.
What you'll do
- Manage assigned payloads from initial scoping through post-flight data delivery, including requirements and interface documentation.
- Plan and execute payload integration, verification, and environmental testing; troubleshoot and resolve technical issues.
- Coordinate payload operations and external customer communications, and help evolve standard interfaces and integration workflows.
What they ask for
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering field.
- 5+ years integrating and testing spacecraft, payloads, or comparably complex electromechanical hardware.
- Named responsible engineer for at least one payload or comparable hardware element through a full program cycle, including flight or equivalent end use.
- Experience developing and managing interface control documents, requirements, and verification/validation plans.
Nice to have
- Experience integrating hosted or customer-furnished payloads onto spacecraft or launch vehicles.
- Hands-on aerospace environmental testing experience; external-partner coordination; or exposure to regulated-industry hardware and quality practices.
Pay
USD 140,333 - 202,703 per year, base salary
Tools
ICDs, vibration, EMI/EMC, TVAC, GSFC-STD-7000, SMC-S-016
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative