Propulsion Engineer I - Hardware and Bus Systems

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

9h•$109,148 - $139,466•Onsite

About The Position

As a Propulsion Engineer I, you will be a hands-on technical owner of the propulsion subsystem and propulsion hardware across Varda's spacecraft fleet. You will help maintain system architecture and produce analyses, component sizing, propulsion software tools, data reviews, detailed mechanical designs, subsystem tests, and operational support for vehicles on the ground and in orbit. You will own assigned hardware, subsystems, and work products within a fast-moving interdisciplinary engineering team. The role contributes directly to current and future space vehicles and offers hands-on experience developing propulsion system design, production, and operational fundamentals across projects. The position is on-site in El Segundo, California.

Requirements

BS in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline; equivalent professional experience is considered.
Hands-on propulsion or fluid systems design, build, and/or test experience for spacecraft or launch vehicles, including internship, coursework, or project experience.
Working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware, including pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation.
Ability to read P&IDs.
Proficiency with CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, CATIA, or equivalent, and PLM software.
Experience authoring or executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns.
Demonstrated ability to take ownership of assigned technical tasks and drive them to resolution.
Authorization to work in the United States as a U.S. person permitted to access export-controlled technology without an export license.

Nice To Haves

Experience authoring P&IDs.
At least 1 year of spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion experience, including familiarity with satellite bus-level monopropellant, bipropellant, or cold gas architectures; graduate coursework is included.
Experience building Python, MATLAB, or other scripts or spreadsheet tools to automate recurring propulsion analysis or data review workflows.
Exposure to structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools applied to propulsion or fluid system hardware.
Familiarity with technical drawing review and GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards.
Exposure to high-pressure fluid systems and spacecraft-grade propellants, including cryogenic, hypergolic, or high-test peroxide systems, and awareness of cleanliness, handling, and safety requirements.
Test, launch site, or in-flight operational experience on spacecraft or launch vehicles.
Familiarity with 1D fluid modeling and analysis tools such as GFSSP, REFPROP, or similar.
Strong technical communication skills, including clarity and precision in work instructions, engineering specifications, and engineering memos.

Responsibilities

Support and maintain the spacecraft propulsion system technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation.
Design, analyze, and test satellite bus propulsion flight hardware and components.
Help execute propulsion system block upgrades on operational vehicles, including schematic and hardware changes, to improve reliability and launch cadence.
Support requirements definition for future vehicles and contribute to project plans, roadmaps, and milestones.
Generate propulsion performance analysis products and document requirements such as propellant budgets, pressure ladders, fluid component sizing, and structural and thermal limits; provide inputs to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and other partner teams.
Build Python scripts and spreadsheet tools to automate recurring analysis and test data review workflows.
Perform detailed mechanical design of propulsion hardware and fluid system components, and structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools.
Author and review design documentation, engineering specifications, build, integration, and test procedures, and engineering memos.
Support in-flight propulsion operations, including on-console support under senior engineer oversight.
Disposition hardware nonconformances, support anomaly investigations, and contribute to corrective actions.