Thermofluids Engineer II

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

About Varda Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind. Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouthov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem. About this Role As the Thermofluids Engineer II , you will be responsible for driving fluid system design for thermal management on the spacecraft through analysis, test, and validation. This role supports development and characterization of thermomechanical and fluid systems for payload, vehicle, and propulsion applications. You will be responsible for defining performance metrics, operational requirements, and hardware requirements for ground testing and flight. Day-to-day responsibilities include sizing thermofluid and system and component performance via hand calculations, simulation, and testing. Familiarity with typical thermomechanical hardware (valves, pumps, accumulators, heat exchangers, etc.), 0D and 1D fluid networks, and fluid system modeling is essential. Successful candidates thrive on solving hard problems, adapting to dynamic requirements, and collaborating across multiple domains. You will gain significant ownership, see your contributions rapidly come to life.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 1–3+ years)
1+ years experience in thermofluids and/or propulsion systems in a manufacturing environment
Strong heat transfer and incompressible fluid mechanics first principles
Background in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks
Expertise in one or more fluid or thermal modeling tools (SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, GFSSP, etc.)
Knowledge with thermomechanical systems: heat exchangers, cold plates, vacuum chambers, pumps, valves, RTDs, transducers, etc.
Hands-on experience in thermal and TVAC testing
Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication

Nice To Haves

3+ years’ experience in thermofluids and/or propulsion systems in a manufacturing environment
Master’s degree in an engineering discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience
Experience with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT
Experience in propulsion systems and thruster characterization
A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

Develop active thermal control systems for vehicle and payload thermal management
Develop fluid network models to interface with top level vehicle thermal model
Define hardware and operational requirements for fluid systems based on analysis and testing
Inform manufacturing and integration of thermal/fluid hardware onto the vehicle
Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines (payload, mechanical, software, propulsion) to design and develop thermal/fluid systems to meet vehicle requirements
Characterize thermofluid performance of propulsion systems from analysis, ground testing, and flight data
Develop data processing infrastructure for ground and flight thermofluids systems

Benefits

Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
Complimentary EV charging