Senior Scientist, Analytical Sciences

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.

Our pharmaceutical R&D team is looking for a highly motivated and creative Senior Scientist, Analytical Sciences who will lead efforts in improving therapeutics with microgravity. This is an opportunity in an exciting area of growth for Varda. The role will shape Varda’s product culture and will play a significant role in establishing the low earth orbit economy.

• Develop, optimize and validate analytical methods for characterizing biologic and small molecule drug substances and drug products using LC‑MS and other biophysical analytical techniques.
• Participate in project planning, resource mapping, and timeline scheduling to ensure product development and flight schedules are maintained.
• Carry out hands‑on experiments and work with external testing sites to fully characterize drug substances and drug products.
• Train junior scientists on techniques and ensure high quality analytical data is produced by Varda.
• Collaborate closely with product development, formulation sciences, and broader engineering groups to drive drug development activities.
• Author relevant documents such as methods, protocols, validation reports, and regulatory filings as needed.

• M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or related fields.
• 3+ years of experience with Ph.D.; 6+ years of experience with M.S.
• Track record of developing methods for use in regulated filings and workflows.

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical, or Biotechnology degree, with 4+ years of pharmaceutical industry experience developing characterization methods for biologics and small molecule APIs.
• Extensive experience in developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting intact, subunit, and peptide map LC‑MS analysis of complex biologics.
• Experience with UV, DLS, DSF, NMR, CD, FTIR, Raman, and particle sizing technologies.
• Experience with chromatographic and affinity‑based methods (HPLC/UPLC, LC‑MS/MS, SEC‑MALS, GC‑MS, CE‑SDS, icIEF, SDS‑PAGE).
• Track record of method development as demonstrated by publications in peer‑reviewed journals, IND/BLA/NDA filings, and presentations at scientific conferences.
• Experience as the responsible engineer or technical owner of projects across the project lifecycle.

• Salary Range: $ - $ per year.
• Leveling and base salary is determined by job‑related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
• You will be eligible for long‑term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long‑term cash awards.

• Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side.
• Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth.
• 401(k) matching.
• Unlimited PTO.
• Health insurance, including Vision and Dental.
• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
• Maternity / Paternity…