Manager of Propulsion Systems

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Varda Low 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. 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. As the Manager of Propulsion Systems, you will own the success of a critical subsystem within Varda's interdisciplinary engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for propulsion system architecture, analysis products, mechanical design, subsystem test, and operations both on the ground and in orbit. You will directly lead a team of propulsion systems engineers to own the responsibilities of the subsystem as Varda evolves designs and adds reliability to its systems through block upgrades. Your work will directly influence the development of future vehicles and capabilities key to Varda’s growth. The Manager of Propulsion Systems excels in technical leadership of propulsion systems and in working cross-functionally across engineering domains, mission assurance, production, and supply chain to establish the first routine industrial operations off our home planet.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering field
6+ years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion — including design, build, and test of fluid systems or propulsion subsystems
Demonstrated ability to lead people: prior experience formally or informally managing, mentoring, or technically leading a team of engineers
Deep technical understanding of spacecraft propulsion subsystems, including fluid system components, P&IDs, pressurized hardware, and propellant handling
History of collaborating effectively across organizational boundaries and driving to multi-disciplinary technical solutions through a pragmatic systems engineering approach
Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight operations
Proficiency with CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) software

Nice To Haves

8+ years in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, with breadth across design, analysis, test, and operations
Prior formal management experience: hiring, performance management, and team development
Experience with satellite bus propulsion architectures, including monopropellant/bipropellant systems, cold gas systems, and similar
Familiarity with fluid systems performance analysis tools and methods
Background in defining and enforcing engineering standards or design guidelines for a propulsion organization
Launch site processing of spaceflight hardware, or flight operations experience
Exceptional communication skills: ability to translate technical complexity into clear direction for your team and clear status for leadership

Responsibilities

Own the spacecraft propulsion systems discipline and its interfaces end-to-end across the engineering organization and product lifecycle.
Set the technical direction for Varda propulsion systems.
Expand team & subsystem capabilities through ongoing engineering developments, driving projects from concept through implementation and flight.
Own vehicle piping & instrumentation diagrams, which directly define spacecraft capabilities in orbit.
Drive, define, and map interfaces with partner disciplines.
Set team priorities, remove blockers, and ensure thorough coverage across all team deliverables as the program scales.
Lead, grow, and hire the propulsion systems team responsible for system development and operations, as well as the primary propulsion interface with GNC, software, structures, thermal, avionics, production, mission operations, and other partners.
Represent propulsion systems in cross-functional forums both internally and externally, while planning and executing major spacecraft testing campaigns and in-flight operations alongside your team.
Define and uphold a high technical bar by informing and applying Varda's interdisciplinary engineering standards to the propulsion systems team.