W Series Vehicle Scheduler

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 W-Series Vehicle Scheduler , you will develop, analyze, and maintain integrated vehicle schedules for Varda Space's growing fleet as the company scales its product lines toward more advanced mission objectives and an increasing operational cadence. Reporting directly to the VP, W-Series Vehicles, you will identify critical path drivers across subsystems engineering, systems integration and test, supply chain, and production, supporting Varda's target of 12+ vehicles per year. You will own baseline schedule development for vehicle block upgrades and sustain recurring reentry vehicle schedules. Responsibilities Develop, maintain, and analyze integrated master schedules (IMS) in Microsoft Project or equivalent tooling across the W-Series Vehicle fleet Partner with Vehicle Systems, Integration and Test leadership, and engineering task leads to translate scope into executable plans aligned with budget and technical objectives Identify critical path, near-critical activities, and key schedule drivers to support informed decision-making Lead weekly schedule updates, status collection, and forecast adjustments; clearly communicate risks, impacts, and recovery options Support baseline development, re-baselining efforts, engineering change cut-ins, and change management activities throughout the program lifecycle Assist the VP, W-Series Vehicles and Finance with monthly earned value metrics, including mission-related spend and non-recurring and recurring engineering labor Perform schedule quality checks and health assessments in accordance with industry best practices and Varda standards Drive scheduling process improvements through standardization, automation, and tool enhancements Ensure schedules are defensible, audit-ready, and aligned with leadership expectations Support program reviews and provide scheduling expertise to facilitate decision-making Basic Qualifications B.S. or M.S. with emphasis in Project Management or related field 8+ years of experience in mission, space vehicle, or production scheduling Expertise in schedule management tools, including MS Project and Smartsheet Proficiency in manufacturing resource planning (MRP) tools Strong communication and collaboration skills in a cross-functional environment Preferred Skills and Experience Experience in a fast-paced aerospace or technology startup environment Background in space or aviation hardware production Familiarity with streamlined earned value management methods and tools Pay Range Salary Range: $125,000 - $190,000/per year This role is on-site   in 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 and perks that 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   Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance    $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses    12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)    Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic    Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents    Financial & Retirement     Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up    401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)   $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement    Relocation support for new hires, if needed    Workplace Experience & Perks     Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly    Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations   Complimentary EV charging   Benefits for Internship Positions:   Health & Wellness     Paid observed holidays.     100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched