About this opportunity
Vardaspace lists this Principal Fluid Systems Engineer - Payloads opportunity in el segundo, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
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 a Principal Fluid Systems Engineer on Varda's Payload team, you will define and lead the development of first-of-its-kind electromechanical fluid handling hardware that manufactures pharmaceuticals in microgravity, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for material extraction. Your payloads will precisely meter, mix, filter, transport, and thermally control pharmaceutical materials in compact spacecraft-compatible hardware. You’ll shape the architecture and technical direction for pharmaceutical payloads—guiding project teams from requirements synthesis through development, on-orbit operation, recovery, and iteration for future missions.
You’ll collaborate closely with pharmaceutical scientists, process engineers, internal leadership, and spacecraft subsystem teams to translate mission objectives into qualified hardware that flies in months, not years. This role is ideal for engineers who combine deep mechanical and fluid systems expertise with the cross-functional breadth to define foundational in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure.
Responsibilities
Define requirements, architecture, and development plans for pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads
Establish fluid system design standards for component selection and qualification, sealing, contamination control, thermal control, and verification/validation
Lead project teams to develop of precision fluid systems incorporating valves, pumps, pistons, manifolds, tubing, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, and thermal control systems
Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction using a variety of tools (hand calcs, Python/MATLAB models, FEA, etc. as needed)
Lead build and test campaigns for prototypes and flight hardware to characterize performance and reliability
Synthesize cross-functional inputs from business development, pharmaceutical science, process engineering, and spacecraft subsystem teams to develop requirements for new pharmaceutical payloads
Develop standards for subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, test reports, and recovery procedures
Represent Varda in technical discussions with internal leadership, external partners, customers, and government stakeholders
Lead continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned
Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices
Basic Qualifications
BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Biomedical, Chemical, or related engineering discipline
7+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
Deep mechanical and fluid systems expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines such as avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, precision instrumentation, etc.
Track record leading project teams through full-cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development
Extensive experience with valves, pumps, pistons, tubing, manifolds, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, metering hardware, thermal-control hardware, and/or compact fluidic assemblies
Excellent communication skills with customer, executive, and cross-disciplinarytechnical audiences
Preferred Skills and Experience
3+ years of cross-functional project leadership experience
Prior full-cycle technical leadership of precision fluid-handling hardware for relevant applications In Space: ECLSS, low-thrust propulsion, astronaut suits, spacecraft thermal control, etc.
On Earth: semiconductor process equipment, biotech process equipment, analytical instruments, medical devices, etc.
Extensive experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
Familiarity with microgravity fluid behavior, capillary-driven flows, gas/liquid separation, two-phase flow, cGMP principles, cleanroom practices, or regulated hardware environments
Pay Range
Salary range: $181,913 - $232,444/per year
This role ison-sitein 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 andperksthat 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
Voluntaryaccident, hospital, critical illness,andpet insurance
$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
12weeks ofparental leave(with supplemental disability leavefor CAmothers)
Family building, pregnancy,parentingand menopausebenefitsvia Maven Clinic
SponsoredOne Medicalmemberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
Substantial incentive equityin a fully funded space start-up
401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediatelyvested)
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
Relocation supportfor new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
Company and team-bonding events, happyhoursand mission-success celebrations
Complimentary EV charging
Benefits forInternship Positions:
Health & Wellness
Paidobservedholidays.
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 $4,000gross up in relocation support, ifeligible
Up to $850commute 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, happyhoursand mission-success celebrations
Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license. “US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
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Worksite address
el segundo, CA, 90245, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.