Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Integration)

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

2d•$181,913 - $262,763•Onsite

About The Position

As the Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Integration) at Varda, you will orchestrate spacecraft final assembly by owning the processes, sequence, and documentation that bring subsystems together into a complete, flight-ready vehicle. You will own integration procedures from subassembly mating through final closeout, working across structures, propulsion, avionics, and thermal protection systems (TPS) to ensure builds are executed accurately, safely, and on schedule. The role requires situational awareness, disciplined process execution, and real-time coordination and resolution of subsystem conflicts on the factory floor. The position is on-site in El Segundo, California. The salary range is $181,913–$262,763 per year. The role is eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Because employees may access export-controlled items, Varda's policy is to hire U.S. persons permitted to access its technology without an export license.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience; the posting notes this typically corresponds to 6–10+ years.
At least 6 years of experience in vehicle or system-level integration roles or final assembly in aerospace, defense, robotics, or a similar industry.
Strong understanding of how mechanical, electrical, and fluid subsystems 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.
Exceptional communication and coordination skills across multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to regularly lift 25 pounds, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware.
Must be a U.S. person permitted to access the company's export-controlled technology without an export license; defined in the posting as a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering specializing in Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Control Theory, or a similar or related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience as a lead integration engineer or integration manufacturing engineer on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program.
Familiarity with integration and test flows for complex aerospace vehicles, including functional testing at each integration milestone.
Background managing integration of flight hardware from multiple subsystem suppliers or internal teams into one vehicle.
Experience with configuration management and build record documentation in a regulated aerospace environment.
Knowledge of cleanliness and contamination-control requirements for propulsion, optical, or precision mechanism integration.
Hands-on experience with vehicle handling equipment such as cranes, slings, rotation fixtures, and precision alignment tooling.
Prior work in a manufacturing environment scaling from unit builds to concurrent production of multiple vehicles.
Experience conducting integration readiness reviews, pre-mate inspections, and post-integration functional checkouts.

Responsibilities

Own spacecraft integration sequences and procedures from subassembly mating through final vehicle closeout and acceptance.
Develop, maintain, and improve assembly travelers and integration work instructions that correctly sequence subsystem interfaces.
Serve as the primary interface between manufacturing and engineering disciplines, including structures, propulsion, avionics, and TPS, during vehicle integration.
Identify and resolve interface conflicts, clearance issues, and assembly sequence problems before they affect the build schedule.
Lead integration readiness reviews and ensure cleanliness, foreign object debris (FOD) sweeps, torque records, and pin-to-pin checks are completed and documented before integration.
Conduct root cause analysis and corrective action (RCCA) for integration non-conformances and coordinate disposition of material review board items with design engineering.
Track integration metrics, including planned versus actual cycle time, non-conformance report rates, and rework hours, and implement improvements to achieve cadence goals.
Define tooling and lifting and handling equipment requirements for safe vehicle integration operations.