Senior Automation & Controls Engineer

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Varda is hiring a Senior Automation & Controls Engineer to build bespoke test infrastructure that qualifies spaceflight hardware for orbit. The engineer will design, build, and own ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems, including propulsion test stands, environmental qualification chambers, and spacecraft-level integration testing systems. The role uses Varda’s in-house PLC framework and Beckhoff EtherCAT tooling, contributes to architecture decisions, and helps define engineering standards for future programs. The position is on-site in El Segundo, California.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical field.
At least 5 years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation.
Hands-on experience integrating industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar standards.
Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem, ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3), or demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise in it.
Ability to work across the full stack, including electrical panel design, cabinet wiring, hardware debugging, and control software development.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment with shifting priorities and expected end-to-end ownership.
Must be a U.S. person eligible to access export-controlled items without an export license; defined in the posting as a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice To Haves

Strong judgment about when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration, and understanding of the tradeoffs.
Experience with custom or in-house control frameworks rather than relying solely on vendor-provided stacks.
Advanced EtherCAT expertise, including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 language suite.
Experience designing deterministic hard real-time control loops with sub-millisecond cycle times.
Familiarity with time-series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana and InfluxDB.
Aerospace experience, particularly spacecraft testing or GSE development.
Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
Hands-on experience with high-pressure gas or fluid systems.
Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi-subsystem test infrastructure.
Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and related documentation requirements.
Experience developing safety-related control systems and evaluating proposed solutions to reduce safety-related risks.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
Integrate systems with external hardware such as thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
Develop and extend Varda’s internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support program needs.
Contribute to architecture decisions for real-time control, including evaluation of PLC-based TwinCAT 3 and Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications.
Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end, from electrical design through commissioning.
Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure on aggressive timelines.
Promote sustainable engineering practices that help new engineers learn the technology stack and support reliable production systems.