Spacecraft Systems Engineer II, Avionics

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

1d•$119,543 - $172,673•Onsite

About The Position

Varda is developing commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules. The company designs, builds, and operates its W-Series vehicles in-house and is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC, and Huntsville, Alabama. The Spacecraft Systems Engineer II, Avionics oversees the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for the Winnebago Spaceship. The role ensures that systems are ready for launch and operations, working across engineering teams to resolve conflicting requirements and achieve integrated vehicle solutions. The engineer contributes to mission readiness for space manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testing, and participates in mission operations as an avionics specialist or system operator. This is an on-site role 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. Employees must be U.S. persons authorized to access export-controlled technology.

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 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.

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, and 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 architecture, system diagrams, and budgets for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions, communicating vehicle solutions aligned with company objectives.
Analyze architecture 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.
Conduct verification plans for avionics systems on flight and hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) hardware to ensure launch readiness and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations.
Participate in mission operations as an avionics specialist or system operator, assessing system health and suggesting corrective actions related to reentry commit criteria.
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 ensure systems are mission ready.
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 improving test automation and efficiency.
Help mentor and train new engineers, fostering learning and continuous improvement.