Spacecraft Systems Engineer II, Avionics

Varda Space Industries•El Segundo, CA

3h•$119,543 - $172,673•Onsite

About The Position

The Spacecraft Systems Engineer II, Avionics oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for Varda’s Winnebago spacecraft. The role ensures avionics systems are ready for launch and operational phases and requires knowledge of avionics design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. The engineer collaborates with other engineering teams and resolves conflicting requirements to achieve system integration. The work supports mission objectives spanning space manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testing. The position is based onsite in El Segundo, California. The listed salary range is $119,543–$172,673 per year. The role is eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards. Because the work involves access to export-controlled items, Varda’s policy is to hire U.S. persons permitted to access its technology without an export license.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
At least 3 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4–20 mA devices, and general test equipment.
Must meet the stated U.S.-person eligibility requirements for access to export-controlled items.

Nice To Haves

Experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept through operational production.
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 scopes 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 against 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.
Create and conduct verification plans for avionics systems on flight and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) hardware, ensuring 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.
Oversee integration of the 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 and 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, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
Mentor and train new engineers, fostering learning and continuous improvement.