Mechanical Design & Test Engineer II, Automation

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

6d•$119,543 - $152,749•Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Design & Test Engineer II, Automation designs, builds, and owns ground support equipment (GSE) and sophisticated test systems that qualify spaceflight hardware for orbit. The role integrates mechanical, electrical, fluid, and instrumentation systems into cohesive platforms, delivering equipment from concept through fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and ongoing support. It supports both rapid R&D test setups and long-term infrastructure improvements, with a priority on high-cadence, production-enabling equipment and reliable system performance. The position is based on-site in El Segundo, California. Varda’s modern test infrastructure stack includes an in-house custom PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling. The engineer will work with internal PLC and EtherCAT tools and partner with cross-functional teams to deliver test systems on aggressive timelines. The role also emphasizes thorough documentation and sustainable engineering practices that help new engineers learn the technology stack and maintain production systems reliably. The stated annual salary range for Engineer II is $119,543–$152,749. The employee will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Because employees have access to export-controlled items, Varda’s policy is to hire U.S. persons permitted to access its technology without an export license.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
At least 3 years of industry experience in mechanical design or industrial automation.
Extensive experience using SolidWorks, NX CAD, or comparable software.
Experience with electrical wiring for cabinets, PLCs, harnesses, connectors, or similar systems.
Experience with Altium or comparable electronic schematic design software.
Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems.
Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi-subsystem test infrastructure.
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 thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift and end-to-end ownership of problems is expected.
U.S. person status permitting access to the employer’s export-controlled technology without an export license.

Nice To Haves

Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development.
Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and associated documentation requirements.
Experience developing safety-related control systems and evaluating solutions to reduce safety-related risks.
Programming experience, either low-level firmware or high-level Python.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations, including data acquisition systems, propellant test stands, fill carts, thermal control systems, PLC cabinets, and gas and liquid systems.
Ensure test infrastructure achieves greater than 99% uptime and predictable performance.
Serve as the Responsible Engineer for test infrastructure, including centrifuges, thermal vacuum chambers (TVACs), propellant test stands, propellant fill carts, propellant gas benches, propellant water flow stands, and torch test stands.
Build cabinets and wire panels, owning systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning.
Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines.
Read, deploy, and make minor edits to Varda’s internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
Champion sustainable engineering practices and thoroughly document systems with clear, accessible procedures and schematics.