Senior Mission Design Engineer

About VardaLow 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. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.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.About this RoleWe are seeking a highly talented, self-motivated Senior Mission Design Engineer (you may also know this as trajectory design, flight dynamics, or astrodynamics) to join our rapidly growing startup. As part of our larger Autonomous Systems team, you will have the technical leadership opportunity to create, design and implement full-cycle mission planning and orbital mechanics profiles for future reentry vehicles, unlocking the future of space factories with rapid flight and entry for next generation products. You will work closely with a top-notch multidisciplinary vehicle engineering team to architect the mission plan and trajectory of the world’s first commercial reentry vehicle, enabling the ability to precision land and return manufactured products to earth. You’ll own and develop modeling and simulation infrastructure and tooling to help ensure trajectory design and reentry profile are accurate, reliable, and safe. You will own the full cycle of mission planning and orbital dynamics development, from requirements definition and design to mission planning and on-orbit and reentry operations. We are looking for engineers who enjoy solving complex and open-ended problems, can work effectively in a fast-paced environment and share our passion in creating in-space industry. ResponsibilitiesPerform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a next generation space vehicleDesign spacecraft trajectories and produce orbital analyses for commercial reentry vehiclesOptimize trajectories based on fuel, time, and/or performance characteristicsWork closely with propulsion, software and flight operations teams to ensure vehicle and mission objectives are accomplished in the vehicle designDesign and implementation of autonomous satellite navigational solutions, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, and atmospheric re-entry algorithmsRunning Monte Carlo analysis to characterize performance of new featuresLead the development of new vehicle capabilitiesDevelop and maintain ground-based mission operations tooling in support of automated and scalable on-orbit operations Support in-orbit operations as trajectory specialist, including coordination with other spacecraft operators and 3rd party entitiesRequired SkillsTeamwork skills are necessary to solve problems in a collaborative environmentAbility to scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problemsDevelop 6 degree of freedom vehicle simulation using C++ and Python Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsuleMission specific analysis for customer launch and in support of business developmentBasic QualificationsB.S. degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical engineering, physics, or related field5+ proven years of experience, or PhD with 3+ years of relevant experienceDemonstrated knowledge in designing, modeling, testing, and flying orbital trajectories or aerospace guidance, navigation, and control systemsHighly adept software and model development skills, particularly in C++/Python/MatlabUnderstanding of orbital mechanics, modeling and simulation, and software developmentExperience anchoring/fitting first principles models to test data or high-fidelity external simulations Proven system engineering and configuration management skills Excellent written and verbal communication skillsPreferred Skills and ExperienceUnderstanding of multi-body dynamics, flexible body dynamics, gas dynamics, fluids, and thermodynamicsExperience developing and verifying physical models for the purpose of control design, component sizing, and system performance evaluationExperience supporting flight test or flying spacecraftAbility to continuously manage risk and provide solutions with lean software development techniquesExperience with project management for cradle-to-grave projectsPrior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effortPrior work in a startup or agile development environmentCapability to solve complex problems autonomy as an individual or as a member of an integrated teamPassion for advancing the commercial space industryPay RangeSalary range: $170,000 - $215,000/per yearThis role is on-site in El Segundo, CALeveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performanceYou will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awardsBenefitsVarda 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 optionsVoluntary 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 celebrationsComplimentary EV chargingITAR RequirementsVarda, 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. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our 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).E-Verify StatementVarda 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 E-Verify program.E-Verify Notice Right To Work NoticeRead moreRead moreVarda 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.