Manufacturing Engineering, Assembly

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 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. As a Manufacturing Engineer II - Integration at Varda, you will be the central orchestrator of spacecraft final assembly — responsible for the processes, sequence, and documentation that bring every subsystem together into a complete, flight-ready vehicle. You will own integration procedures from subassembly mating through final closeout, working at the convergence of structures, propulsion, avionics, and TPS to ensure every build is executed accurately, safely, and on schedule. This role demands exceptional situational awareness, meticulous attention to process discipline, and the confidence to resolve conflicts between subsystems in real time on the factory floor. Develop, maintain, and continuously improve assembly travelers and integration work instructions that sequence all subsystem interfaces correctly
Serve as the primary interface between manufacturing and all engineering disciplines (structures, propulsion, avionics, TPS) during vehicle integration
Identify and resolve interface conflicts, clearance issues, and assembly sequence problems before they impact build schedule
Lead integration readiness reviews and ensure all pre-integration checkpoints — cleanliness, FOD sweeps, torque records, pin-to-pin checks — are completed and documented
Drive root cause analysis and RCCA for integration non-conformances; disposition MRBs in coordination with design engineering
Define tooling and lifting/handling equipment requirements for safe vehicle integration operations
S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 1–3+ years)

• 3+ years of experience in vehicle or system-level integration roles or final assembly within aerospace, defense, robotics or similar industries
• Strong understanding of how multiple subsystems (mechanical, electrical, fluid) interface within a vehicle assembly
• Experience developing and executing complex assembly or integration procedures
• Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound, real-time decisions on the production floor
• S. degree 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

Experience as a lead integration engineer or integration ME on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program
Familiarity with integration and test (I&T) flows for complex aerospace vehicles, including functional testing at each integration milestone
Experience with configuration management and build record documentation in a regulated aerospace environment
Hands-on experience with vehicle handling — cranes, slings, rotation fixtures, and precision alignment tooling
Prior work in a manufacturing environment actively scaling from unit builds to multi-vehicle concurrent production
Experience conducting integration readiness reviews, pre-mate inspections, and post-integration functional checkouts
Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.
Regular Full-Time Positions:
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 options
• 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

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
Intern Positions:

Paid observed holidays

• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial

• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
• Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
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. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum). Citizenship and Immigration Services. 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.