Automation & Controls Engineer II

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Varda is hiring an Automation & Controls Engineer II to build bespoke test infrastructure that qualifies spaceflight hardware for orbit. The engineer will design, build, and own sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems, including propulsion test stands, environmental qualification chambers, and spacecraft-level integration testing systems. Varda’s technology stack includes an internally developed PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling. The role offers meaningful participation in architecture decisions and the opportunity to define standards used across programs. The role is based on-site in El Segundo, California. Level and base salary are determined by job-related skills, education, experience, and performance. The position is eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Due to access to export-controlled items, Varda hires U.S. persons who are authorized to access the technology without an export license: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
At least 2 years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
Hands-on experience integrating industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar standards.
Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3), or demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise in it.
Ability to work across the full stack, including electrical panel design, cabinet wiring, hardware debugging, and control software development.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment with shifting priorities and expected end-to-end ownership.
Must be a U.S. person authorized to access the employer’s export-controlled technology without an export license: a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Nice To Haves

Strong intuition for when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration, and understanding of the tradeoffs.
Experience with custom or in-house control frameworks rather than relying solely on vendor-provided stacks.
Advanced EtherCAT expertise, including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 language suite.
Experience designing deterministic, hard real-time control loops with sub-millisecond cycle times.
Familiarity with time-series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar platforms.
Aerospace experience, particularly spacecraft testing or GSE development.
Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems.
Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi-subsystem test infrastructure.
Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and associated documentation requirements.
Experience developing safety-related control systems and evaluating proposed solutions to reduce safety-related risks.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
Integrate external hardware such as thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
Develop and extend Varda’s internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
Contribute to architecture decisions for real-time control implementation, including evaluating PLC-based TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications.
Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning.
Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure on aggressive timelines.
Promote sustainable engineering practices that help new engineers learn the technology stack and support reliable production system maintenance.