Manufacturing Engineer; TPS

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.

As a TPS (Thermal Protection Systems) Manufacturing Engineer, you will scale manufacturing from a few bespoke vehicles to many consistent, concurrent builds. This role supports thermal protection systems production, including heatshield layup, cure operations, bonding, and composite inspection. The TPS ME owns Varda's in-house heatshield manufacturing capability, including ceramic matrix composite and ablative material processes.

• Provide technical direction to improve build processes to scale and increase vehicle cadence
• Collaborate with other engineers and technicians to solve large-scale production challenges
• Refine floor layouts, capacity models, and product flow analysis
• Develop and implement standardized processes for vehicle integration
• Assess cost of increasing work cell capabilities and propose plans to increase internal capabilities
• Proactively coordinate with technicians and supply chain to prevent schedule delays
• Review work instructions to recommend changes when required and identify tooling/training gaps
• Identify and resolve non-conformance issues and implement root cause corrective actions

• B.S. degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering
• 1–4+ years of manufacturing experience
• Teamwork, communication (verbal and written), and problem solving in a collaborative environment
• Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries
• Strong first‑principles thinking
• Hands‑on experience building complex vehicles
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.
• Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing
• Hands‑on position may require standing and working directly with hardware on the floor

• Knowledge of aerospace vehicle systems
• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project
• Experience transitioning complex assemblies from development to production, including developing factory systems and floor layouts
• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing, cleanliness, ESD, grounding)
• Experience across structures, propulsion, materials/thermal protection systems, and/or avionics production
• Prior work in a technical role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort
• Experience with tooling design and analysis using 3D CAD software

• Salary Range:
  • Eng I/II: $109,000–$139,000
  • Senior: $140,000–$179,000
• This role is onsite in El Segundo, CA
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job‑related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
• Eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long‑term cash awards

• Equity in a fully funded space startup (interns excluded)
• 401(k) matching (interns excluded)
• Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
• Health insurance, including vision and dental
• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day; dinners provided twice a week
• Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

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.

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.…