Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Propulsion)
About The Position
As the Principal Propulsion Manufacturing Engineer at Varda, you will help scale manufacturing from a few bespoke vehicles to consistent, concurrent builds. The role supports propulsion system production, including valve assembly, tube fabrication, pressure vessel integration, and engine integration. You will own manufacturing processes for high-pressure fluid systems and propulsion hardware, from tube shop operations through acceptance testing. Manufacturing Engineers work directly with design engineers and technicians across the processes required to manufacture Varda vehicles, with a focus on incremental improvement for every vehicle produced. This is an on-site role in El Segundo, California. Salary is $181,913–$262,763 per year. Leveling and base salary are determined by job-related skills, education, experience, and performance. The role is eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Because the position provides access to export-controlled items, Varda's policy is to hire only U.S. persons permitted to access its technology without an export license.
Requirements
- B.S. in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (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 capability, including diagnosing propulsion build defects and driving corrective action to closure.
- Physical ability to regularly lift 25 pounds, bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware.
Nice To Haves
- M.S. 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 systems testing or qualification of assemblies, including energetics and explosives.
- Experience with metals, composites, and plastics used in propulsion systems.
- Experience with propulsion-related manufacturing methods, including welding, orbital welding, machining, and additive manufacturing.
- Experience with non-destructive evaluation, including ultrasonic testing, dye penetrant, and X-ray methods.
- Prior work transitioning propulsion assemblies from development to production environments 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.
Benefits
- Eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
