Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Propulsion)

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

10d•$181,913 - $262,763•Onsite

About The Position

Varda is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to scale propulsion manufacturing from bespoke vehicles to consistent, concurrent builds. The role supports production of propulsion systems, including valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration. The engineer owns manufacturing processes for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware, from tube shop operations through acceptance testing, and works with design engineers and technicians to improve processes and increase vehicle build cadence. The position is on-site in El Segundo, California.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience may be considered, typically 6–10+ years.
At least 6 years of manufacturing experience with propulsion systems, fluid systems, or high-pressure hardware in aerospace or a related industry.
Hands-on experience with tube fabrication, tube bending, tube fitting installation, and high-pressure fluid system assembly.
Familiarity with propulsion system cleanliness requirements, cleanliness verification methods, and contamination control procedures.
Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, P&IDs, and assembly models for fluid systems.
Strong first-principles problem-solving ability, including diagnosing propulsion build defects and driving corrective action to closure.
Ability to regularly lift 25 pounds, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware.

Nice To Haves

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Fluid Mechanics, Process Engineering, or a related discipline.
Experience manufacturing and assembling propulsion systems for launch vehicles, spacecraft, or hypersonic vehicles, including valve assembly and pressure vessel integration.
Experience with high-pressure fluid system testing or qualification of assemblies, including energetics and explosives.
Experience with metals, composites, and plastics used in propulsion systems.
Experience with propulsion manufacturing methods, including welding, orbital welding, machining, and additive manufacturing.
Experience with nondestructive examination, including ultrasonic testing, dye penetrant, and X-ray.
Prior experience transitioning propulsion assemblies from development to production while increasing build rate.
Familiarity with hazardous materials handling and safety protocols associated with propellant loading and propulsion acceptance testing.

Responsibilities

Own end-to-end manufacturing processes for propulsion system production, including valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration.
Develop and maintain work instructions, process traveler documents, and process specifications for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware.
Provide technical direction to improve propulsion build processes and increase vehicle production cadence.
Implement and enforce propulsion-specific cleanliness protocols, contamination control procedures, and propellant compatibility requirements.
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for propulsion non-conformances, including leak events, contamination findings, and assembly defects.
Define tooling and test equipment requirements for tube shop operations, leak checks, and propulsion acceptance testing.
Collaborate with design engineers and supply chain to prevent schedule delays and resolve incoming hardware quality issues.
Refine propulsion work cell layouts and product flow to support increased cadence and concurrent vehicle builds.