Senior Space Systems Engineer, Avionics
About The Position
The Senior Space Systems Engineer, Avionics oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda’s Winnebago Spaceship. The role ensures avionics readiness for launch and operational phases and requires knowledge of avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. The engineer collaborates with other engineering teams and reconciles competing requirements to achieve system integration and support mission objectives, including space manufacturing and hypersonic testing during reentry. This position is on-site in El Segundo, California. Varda builds, integrates, and tests its vehicles, equipment, and materials at its El Segundo offices and production facility. The role requires U.S. person status because employees have access to export-controlled items. Varda participates in the E-Verify program and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
- At least 5 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
- Proficiency programming and debugging with Python.
- Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.
- Must qualify as a U.S. person permitted to access export-controlled technology without an export license: a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Nice To Haves
- Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production.
- Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system-level tests.
- Familiarity with Unix environments and command-line utilities.
- Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions.
- Strong project or program management skills.
- Relevant prior roles include Avionics Hardware, FPGA Engineer, Electronics Test Engineer, or Electrical Systems Engineer.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project scope and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept through prototype and full-scale production.
- Develop electrical architectures, system diagrams, and budgets covering power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions to communicate vehicle solutions aligned with company objectives.
- Analyze architectures for faults and risks; develop mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible.
- Develop and conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) hardware, confirming launch readiness and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations.
- Participate in mission operations as an avionics specialist or system operator, determine system health, and suggest corrective actions related to reentry commit criteria and operational success.
- Oversee integration of Winnebago avionics systems and serve as the primary point of contact for integrated-systems investigations.
- Design, build, and operate HITL testbeds that simulate the spacecraft on the ground to verify mission readiness.
- Develop avionics ground infrastructure and support the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with flight vehicles.
- Contribute to engineering best practices, with a focus on increasing test automation and efficiency.
- Mentor and train new engineers, fostering learning and continuous improvement.
Benefits
- Stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
