Senior Applications Engineer

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Varda is seeking a Senior Applications Engineer to lead the development, deployment, improvement, and management of Engineering applications. The role manages solutions through their full product life cycle, from identifying opportunities through support and sustainment. Working across engineering teams, the engineer ensures tools are integrated, compliant, and scalable for hardware and software development workflows. Projects may target cycle-time and cost reduction, better decision-making, risk reduction, configuration control, and other operational efficiencies. The position reports to the Director of Enterprise Applications and is a full-time, exempt role located at Varda’s El Segundo headquarters. The Senior Applications Engineer is accountable for engineering systems such as PLM, CAD/PDM, MBSE, and engineering change management platforms. The role also encompasses analytics, workflow improvement, application development, data integration and governance, compliance support, user enablement, AI-tool governance, vendor and platform evaluation, and reporting system health and adoption to stakeholders. Varda develops commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules, and designs, builds, and operates its vehicles in-house. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC, and Huntsville, Alabama. Employees may access export-controlled items; Varda’s policy is to hire U.S. persons authorized to access its technology without an export license. Varda participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program and is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive workplace.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of experience in software engineering or a similar role involving coding.
Ability to gather stakeholder requirements and take a project from initial concept through finished product.
Ability to work with end users to rapidly iterate prototype applications and resolve user issues.
Hands-on experience with business-process mapping and re-engineering using structured methodologies.
Ability to work independently as the sole technical resource within a business unit and manage competing priorities without day-to-day technical oversight.
Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences, both internal and external.
Proficiency in SQL and at least one scripting or programming language, such as Python or JavaScript.
Demonstrated experience building reports and dashboards in a BI platform such as Power BI, Tableau, or an equivalent.
Familiarity with engineering data domains, including BOM structures, CAD metadata, and change-order workflows, and willingness to develop expertise in aerospace engineering data standards.
Familiarity with data integration patterns such as ETL/ELT and tools such as Alteryx, dbt, SSIS, or Informatica.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce system-design documentation, SOPs, and training materials for non-technical engineering stakeholders.
Familiarity with AI/ML concepts and hands-on experience using LLM-based tools professionally.
Familiarity with version control systems such as Git and software development lifecycle fundamentals, including code review and CI/CD practices.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
Experience supporting or managing enterprise engineering applications such as PLM, CAD/PDM, MBSE, or engineering change management tools.
Experience with MBSE toolchains such as CAMEO or Capella and engineering change management workflows.
Experience with AS9100 and/or CMMC compliance documentation and audit support.
Proficiency with low-code/no-code platforms such as Alteryx, Power Apps, or similar tools for rapid application development.
Experience with cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, or AWS Redshift and modern ELT architectures.
Experience with Microsoft products such as Teams, Jira, Confluence, and Bitbucket, including their APIs.
Track record of architecting and sustaining AI-powered solutions that achieved measurable adoption across large user populations.
Experience with aerospace and defense enterprise systems, manufacturing workflows, or supply chain operations.
ITIL, PMP, or Lean Six Sigma certification.
Track record of building workflow automation or custom tools that eliminated manual processes, with quantifiable outcomes such as hours saved, error reduction, or user-adoption metrics in a regulated environment.
Experience conducting or contributing to platform trade studies or build-versus-buy evaluations for data infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Serve as the single point of accountability for engineering systems, including PLM, CAD/PDM, MBSE, and engineering change management platforms.
Administer and optimize engineering platforms for daily operations, data integrity, configuration control, and compliance alignment.
Build analytics dashboards and reports using tools such as Power BI, SQL, and Python for engineering and manufacturing stakeholders.
Map, document, and re-engineer engineering workflows to remove manual bottlenecks, reduce cycle times, and improve data capture.
Develop and maintain low-code/no-code and custom internal applications to automate repetitive tasks and support decision-making.
Build and ingest ETL pipelines connecting engineering tools to the broader enterprise data layer.
Support compliance documentation for engineering systems and processes, including AS9100 and CMMC validation workflows.
Triage and resolve application issues, coordinate vendor escalations, and manage system-update and patch release cycles.
Create training materials and lead hands-on enablement sessions to increase adoption and reduce shadow IT.
Evaluate, pilot, and deploy AI-powered and generative tools in accordance with enterprise standards, and manage their lifecycle and governance.
Own engineering-data governance and quality standards, including defining data owners, enforcing naming conventions, and monitoring data lineage.
Assist IT and Infosec with permission-based access, tracking, and compliance.
Evaluate tools, platforms, and vendors for make/buy decisions and integration with enterprise architecture.
Track and report system health, adoption KPIs, and project status to engineering leadership and enterprise stakeholders.