Senior Propulsion Engineer - Hardware and Bus Systems

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 Propulsion Engineer – Hardware & Bus Systems , you will be a hands-on technical owner of  the  propulsion  sub system  and propulsion   hardware  across   Varda's  fleet of  satellite buses.  You will  be responsible for  propulsion system architecture, analysis products,  component  sizing,  propulsion software  tool development,  data review,  detailed  mechanical design, subsystem test, and operations both on the ground and in orbit  while working within an interdisciplinary engineering team . Your work will directly influence the development of future vehicles and capabilities key to Varda’s growth.   You ’ll  thrive in a fast-moving environment, tak ing  full ownership of your systems and rais ing  the technical bar for everyone around you.   Responsibilities Maintain the Varda spacecraft propulsion system technical baseline, including P&IDs and system-level documentation  Design, analyze, and test Varda satellite bus propulsion flight hardware and components  Identify opportunities and execute propulsion system block upgrades on operational vehicles, inclusive of both schematic and hardware changes, to increase reliability and cadence  Help define requirements and high-level propulsion architecture for future Varda vehicles; develop project plans with roadmaps, milestones, and drive cross-team alignment  Generate propulsion performance analysis products and document key requirements (propellant budgets, pressure ladders, fluid component sizing, structural & thermal limits, more) and deliver them as inputs to GNC, Mission Operations, Thermal, and other cross-disciplinary partner teams  Build Python scripts and spreadsheet tools to automate recurring analysis and test data reduction workflows  Execute detailed mechanical design of propulsion hardware and fluid system components; perform structural analysis using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools  Author and review design documentation, engineering specs, build/integration/test procedures, and engineering memos  Sit on console for in-flight propulsion operations  Serve as a technical authority to disposition hardware nonconformances.  Lead anomaly investigations and drive corrective actions to improve quality across the organization.  Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical reviewer for analysis products, design packages, and external deliverables  Basic Qualifications B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered (typically 3–6+ years) 3+ years of hands-on experience in  propulsion or fluid systems definition, design, build, and test for spacecraft or launch vehicles Deep working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation Proficiency reading and authoring P&IDs Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) and PLM software Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns, including console operations Demonstrated ability to drive anomaly investigations and technical problems to resolution across organizational boundaries  Preferred Skills and Experience 6+ years of years of spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion experience, including satellite bus-level propulsion architectures (monopropellant, bipropellant, cold gas systems)  Hands-on experience building Python scripts or spreadsheet tools to automate recurring propulsion analysis & data review workflows  Structural analysis experience using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools applied to propulsion or fluid system hardware  Experience generating and reviewing technical drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards  Experience with spacecraft-grade propellants including cryogenic, hypergolic, or high-test peroxide systems.  Working knowledge of cleanliness, handling, and safety requirements.  Test, launch site, or in-flight operational experience on spacecraft or launch vehicles.  Proficiency using 1D fluid modeling & analysis tools (GFSSP, REFPROP, other)  Experience developing & refining engineering standards, design guidelines, or analysis frameworks within a propulsion organization  Exceptional technical communication skills — precision and clarity in work instructions, engineering specifications, and engineering memos  Experience managing or mentoring technical contri