Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads

Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads

El Segundo, California, United States

About This Role

As a Senior Mechanisms Engineer on Varda's Payload team, you will develop electromechanical flight hardware that operates in orbit, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for inspection and iteration. You will own multi-payload missions across both pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbed missions—driving hardware from concept through design, analysis, build, test, launch, and recovery.

You'll collaborate closely with internal specialists and external partners, translate high-level mission objectives into system designs and analyses, and perform hands-on integration and testing to deliver hardware that flies in months, not years. This role is ideal for engineers who pair strong mechanical expertise with the breadth to drive cross-functional efforts and the desire to deliver complex hardware on fast development cycles.

Responsibilities

Own multi-payload missions from concept through design, integration, launch, reentry, and recovery

Lead the design of mechanisms, structures, thermal/fluid interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies

Independently perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (hand calcs, python/matlab models, and FEA as needed)

Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware

Coordinate cross-functional inputs (avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration)

Serve as primary technical interface for multi-payload missions or complex payload development

Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation

Lead mission operations and post-flight teardown

Lead incorporation of lessons learned and continuous improvement

Mentor entry-level engineers and interns

Basic Qualifications

BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field

4+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware

Strong mechanical expertise with breadth in at least one adjacent discipline (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.)

Experience delivering hardware into rigorous environments (aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, etc.)

Ability to independently define tasks, manage schedules, and deliver integrated hardware

Excellent cross-discipline communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Prior full cycle ownership of space flight hardware

Experience integrating electromechanical actuators, sensors, thermal control hardware and/or fluid control hardware

Experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)

Customer-facing technical communication experience

Active Secret or Top Secret clearance

Pay Range

Salary range: $140,000 - $180,000/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

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well being, and a high quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):

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