Principal Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
About The Position
As a Principal Mechanisms Engineer on Varda’s Payload team, you will define and lead the development of complex electromechanical flight hardware that operates in orbit, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for inspection and iteration. You will shape payload architecture across pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbed missions—guiding systems from early concept through detailed design, integration, testing, launch, and recovery. You’ll work closely with internal leadership and external partners, translating mission needs into engineering strategy and technical direction. This role is ideal for engineers with deep mechanical expertise and broad cross-disciplinary insight who want to influence system architecture, lead multi-mission efforts, and mentor engineers while delivering complex hardware on rapid flight timelines.
Requirements
- BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field
- 7+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
- Deep mechanical expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.)
- Track record leading teams through full cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development
- Experience communicating with diverse technical and executive audiences, both internal and external
Nice To Haves
- 3+ years of cross-functional project leadership experience
- Significant experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
- Experience leading government-facing technical programs
- Active Secret or Top Secret clearance
Responsibilities
- Define architecture, requirements, and development plans for multi-payload or multi-mission systems
- Lead complex mechanism and electromechanical subsystem design efforts
- Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction using a variety of tools (hand calcs, python/matlab models, FEA, etc. as needed)
- Lead cross-functional project teams across avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration
- Represent Varda to senior internal leadership and external partners
- Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation
- Lead build, integration, testing, mission operations, recovery, and anomaly resolution
- Guide lessons-learned processes and influence payload development cycles
- Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices
Benefits
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
