Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer, Hardware

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer partners with design and manufacturing teams to establish processes and controls that support scaling spacecraft hardware production. The role ensures production processes deliver verified, reliable hardware at rate and may also support Quality, Flight Reliability, and Mission Assurance. It is suited to a collaborative, process-oriented engineer with hands-on hardware design, testing, manufacturing, or troubleshooting experience. The position is on-site at Varda’s El Segundo, California facility. The stated salary range is $140,333–$179,314 per year. The role is eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Because employees have access to export-controlled items, Varda’s policy is to hire U.S. persons who are authorized to access the technology without an export license.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or materials sciences engineering.
At least 5 years of professional experience in aerospace, design, quality, or a related engineering role.
Hands-on experience with hardware testing, qualification, troubleshooting, or failure analysis.
Commitment to lean quality principles without compromising safety or reliability.
Demonstrated application of process controls in high-volume manufacturing, testing, and quality environments.
Experience generating, processing, and/or analyzing data for production insight.
Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with a drive to innovate and improve reliability in cutting-edge technology.
Must be a U.S. person, as defined in the posting, and authorized to access the company’s export-controlled technology without an export license.

Nice To Haves

Full project lifecycle ownership experience, from cradle to grave.
Proficiency with quality tools such as measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and other problem-solving approaches.
Hands-on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, casting, welding, fastening, or other special manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams to create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for vehicle hardware.
Contain suspect or known non-conforming product and guide quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers.
Lead failure investigations in production, testing, and operation; identify and mitigate immediate and underlying root causes to reduce risk and improve design and process reliability.
Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
Perform failure modes and effects analyses and build requirements-compliance matrix tools.
Ensure adequate test coverage, change management, and manufacturability of flight hardware.
Own vehicle-level deliverables for regulatory bodies, including requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence.
Support Mission Assurance’s vehicle-level risk management and the identification, tracking, and execution of mitigations.