Senior Structures Engineer

Varda • El Segundo, CA

96d • $133,650 - $193,050

About The Position

Varda is seeking an experienced Senior Structures Engineer to join our team. In this position, you will be responsible for the design, analysis, build and test of primary and secondary structures for Varda's new spaceflight structures and reentry vehicles. We are looking for engineers who thrive on solving complex problems, can operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, and share our passion for advancing in-space industry. The structures team supports a diverse range of projects and responsibilities -- this includes the design and development of spaceflight structures, mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE), and basic spacecraft mechanisms, as well as the mechanical needs of other teams across the company. This is a full-time, exempt position located at our El Segundo headquarters.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline with 7+ years of experience in related applications (e.g., structures for automotive, aircraft, spacecraft, etc.).
• Strong first principles thinking with a deep understanding of structural design, analysis, and test.
• Ability to perform appropriate structural analyses to demonstrate that a structure design meets or exceeds requirements (e.g., Hand Calcs, Ansys, Femap, Nastran, etc.).
• Excellent 3D CAD skills (ideally NX) and experience translating models to production intent (detailed drawings, work instructions, etc.).
• Experience working with revision-controlled documentation in a PLM system (Teamcenter preferred).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication.
• Basic technical breadth across other disciplines (avionics, software, GNC, etc.).
• Excitement about making history at the forefront of both the space and pharmaceutical industries.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices, from concept to delivery (e.g., qualification testing practices, design for typical space environments, cleanliness, etc.).
• Direct experience with spaceflight vehicles, especially reentry vehicles, and the associated technical challenges therein.
• Experience with programming tools (Python, Matlab, etc.).
• Comfortable with hands-on assembly, fabrication, and machining of metallic parts.

Responsibilities

• Derive hardware requirements and perform initial design trades given open-ended problem statements and stakeholder input.
• Evaluate the impact of hardware design decisions on packaging, thermal, environmental, and loads to ensure the best system-level solution.
• Own all aspects of hardware delivery, both technical and administrative.
• Use hand calculations, finite element analyses, and computer-aided designs (CAD) to ensure all hardware meets or exceeds requirements.
• Design and execute development and qualification testing.
• Develop tooling to support hardware integration and testing.
• Technical mentorship of junior engineers.

Benefits

• Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side.
• Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded).
• 401(k) matching (interns excluded).
• Unlimited PTO (interns excluded).
• Health insurance, including Vision and Dental.
• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
• Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Health and Personal Care Retailers
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees