Supply Chain Engineer- Avionics​/Electro-Mechanical

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.

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 Space

X, 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.

As a Supply Chain Engineer
- Avionics/Electro-Mechanical focused, you’ll be instrumental in ensuring the seamless integration of engineering and manufacturing capabilities with our supplier network. You’ll collaborate closely with supply chain, engineering, and production teams to ensure that our suppliers can meet our rigorous standards and deliver components that align with our design specifications. This role will involve both hands‑on evaluation of supplier processes and strategic initiatives to enhance supplier performance.

You’ll be responsible for assessing manufacturing capabilities, interpreting engineering drawings, and driving improvements that support our mission as we continue to innovate and expand.

This is a full-time onsite role based in our El Segundo headquarters.

• Own supplier quality – create framework for Varda’s supplier quality programs
• Supplier‑facing work specifically on avionics commodities: PCBAs, wire harnesses, connectors, avionics boxes – including full avionics assembly
• Collaborate with engineering teams on new product introduction and R&D projects, providing Designed for Manufacturability (DFM) input and supplier selection throughout the development lifecycle
• Work closely with the supply chain team to evaluate potential suppliers, conduct supplier audits, and assess their capabilities, and quality control processes
• Define and implement robust quality requirements for suppliers, including specifications, inspection and acceptance criteria, in collaboration with engineering and operations teams
• Build relationships with suppliers to drive continuous improvement of quality control processes
• Investigate and resolve supplier quality issues through root cause analysis and corrective actions
• Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and qualification activities to ensure supplier quality considerations are addressed during the product development lifecycle
• Stay updated with industry trends, standards, and regulations related to supplier quality and manufacturing in the aerospace sector

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related degree (electrical, mechanical, aerospace, etc.)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in supplier quality engineering, preferably in the aerospace, automotive, or high‑performance engineering industries
• Demonstrated fluency with avionics hardware experience at the box, harness, or board level
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills, with a keen attention to detail
• Knowledge of quality tools such as FMEA, DMAIC, 8D, etc.
• Understanding of engineering models and drawings
• Ability to travel 25‑50% of the time

• Expert level knowledge in one or more commodities within the team's scope (PCB/PCBA manufacturing, mechanical machining, propulsion systems, etc)
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills,…