Space Build Reliability Engineer II

Location: On-site in El Segundo, California, United States. Relocation support may be available for new hires.

Salary: $119,543–$152,749 per year, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

Varda develops commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing systems, reentry capsules, heat shields, and satellite buses.

What you will do

• Create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for spacecraft vehicle hardware with design and manufacturing teams.
• Contain non-conforming products and guide quality inspectors, technicians, supervisors, and engineers.
• Lead failure investigations across production, testing, and operations, identifying immediate and root causes.
• Review hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
• Perform failure modes and effects analyses, build requirements compliance tools, and ensure test coverage, change management, and manufacturability.
• Own vehicle-level compliance, hazard analysis, verification evidence, and mission assurance risk mitigations for regulatory deliverables.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or materials science engineering.
• At least 3 years of professional experience in aerospace, design, quality, or a related engineering role.
• Hands-on experience with hardware testing, qualification, troubleshooting, or failure analysis.
• Experience applying process controls in high-volume manufacturing, testing, and quality environments.
• Experience generating, processing, or analyzing production data, along with strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person under applicable export-control requirements.

Nice to have

• Full project lifecycle ownership experience.
• Experience with measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis, corrective action, APQP, metrology, PFMEA, and control plans.
• Hands-on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, casting, welding, fastening, or other special manufacturing processes.

Culture & Benefits

• Regular full-time employment with flexible PTO and 12 paid holidays.
• Company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• Parental leave, family-building support, wellness reimbursement, and sponsored One Medical memberships.
• 401(k) plan with a 6% employer match and immediate vesting.
• Company-provided meals, team events, mission-success celebrations, and complimentary EV charging.