Senior Manufacturing Engineer- Integration

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 Asparouhov 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 Senior Manufacturing Engineer- Integration at Varda, you will be the central orchestrator of spacecraft final assembly — responsible for the processes, sequence, and documentation that bring every subsystem together into a complete, flight-ready vehicle. You will own integration procedures from subassembly mating through final closeout, working at the convergence of structures, propulsion, avionics, and TPS to ensure every build is executed accurately, safely, and on schedule. This role demands exceptional situational awareness, meticulous attention to process discipline, and the confidence to resolve conflicts between subsystems in real time on the factory floor. If you thrive on complexity and find satisfaction in watching a spacecraft come together under your direction, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities

Own spacecraft integration sequences and procedures from subassembly mating through final vehicle closeout and acceptance

Develop, maintain, and continuously improve assembly travelers and integration work instructions that sequence all subsystem interfaces correctly

Serve as the primary interface between manufacturing and all engineering disciplines (structures, propulsion, avionics, TPS) during vehicle integration

Identify and resolve interface conflicts, clearance issues, and assembly sequence problems before they impact build schedule

Lead integration readiness reviews and ensure all pre-integration checkpoints — cleanliness, FOD sweeps, torque records, pin-to-pin checks — are completed and documented

Drive root cause analysis and RCCA for integration non-conformances; disposition MRBs in coordination with design engineering

Track integration metrics (planned vs. actual cycle time, NCR rates, rework hours) and implement targeted improvements to hit cadence goals

Define tooling and lifting/handling equipment requirements for safe vehicle integration operations

Basic Qualifications

B.S. in Mechanical or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 3–6+ years)

3+ years of experience in vehicle or system-level integration roles or final assembly within aerospace, defense, robotics or similar industries

Strong understanding of how multiple subsystems (mechanical, electrical, fluid) interface within a vehicle assembly

Experience developing and executing complex assembly or integration procedures

Ability to manage competing priorities and make sound, real-time decisions on the production floor

Exceptional communication and coordination skills across multi-discipline teams

Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs., bend, stoop, and stand for extended periods while working directly with flight hardware

Preferred Skills and Experience

M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering specialized in Embedded Systems, Mechatronics, Control Theory, or similar, or related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience

Experience as a lead integration engineer or integration ME on a launch vehicle, satellite, or spacecraft program

Familiarity with integration and test (I&T) flows for complex aerospace vehicles, including functional testing at each integration milestone

Background managing integration of flight hardware from multiple subsystem suppliers or internal teams into a single vehicle

Experience with configuration management and build record documentation in a regulated aerospace environment

Knowledge of cleanliness and contamination control requirements for propulsion, optical, or precision mechanism integration

Hands-on experience with vehicle handling — cranes, slings, rotation fixtures, and precision alignment tooling

Prior work in a manufacturing environment actively scaling from unit builds to multi-vehicle concurrent production

Experience conducting integration readiness reviews, pre-mate inspections, and post-integration functional checkouts

Pay Range

Salary Range: Senior: $140,333-$179,314/per year

This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA

Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance

You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Benefits

Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions:

Health & Wellness

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

Financial & Retirement

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

Workplace Experience & Perks

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

Intern Positions:

Health & Wellness

Paid observed holidays

100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options

$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses

Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial

$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement

Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible

Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible

Workplace Experience & Perks

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

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