University Recruiter (Aerospace)

Location: El Segundo, California, United States (onsite). The role requires approximately 30–40% travel during peak university recruiting seasons. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and qualify as a U.S. person under applicable export-control requirements.

Base salary: $90,000–$120,000 per year, plus potential stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Company

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

What you will do

• Own approximately half of the university recruiting requisition load and manage assigned searches from application through offer.
• Source early-career candidates through LinkedIn Recruiter, Handshake, university networks, referrals, student organizations, competitions, and targeted outreach.
• Review resumes, conduct recruiter screens, assess candidates, coordinate interviews and debriefs, and drive offers through close.
• Partner with hiring managers and engineering leaders to define candidate profiles, build pipelines, and make timely hiring decisions.
• Represent Varda at career fairs, information sessions, networking events, student organization meetings, technical events, and campus visits.
• Build university relationships, support campus strategy, coordinate with the University Recruiting Intern, and use recruiting metrics to improve candidate experience and pipeline performance.

Requirements

• Previous university recruiting experience with direct experience recruiting and engaging college students.
• 2–5 years of recruiting experience with demonstrated full-cycle recruiting ownership.
• Experience managing multiple requisitions and candidate pipelines simultaneously.
• Hands-on experience with Greenhouse or a similar applicant tracking system and LinkedIn Recruiter.
• Experience partnering with universities, career centers, student organizations, faculty, hiring managers, and technical stakeholders.
• U.S. work authorization and U.S.-person status are required because the role provides access to export-controlled technology.

Nice to have

• Recruiting experience in aerospace, space, defense, or another technical engineering environment.
• Experience recruiting across multiple engineering disciplines or supporting high-volume university recruiting and internship programs.
• Experience with Handshake, university employer branding, campus engagement, or recruiting funnel analytics.

Culture & Benefits

• Regular full-time employees receive flexible PTO, 12 paid holidays, and company-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Benefits include FSA and employer-matched HSA options, wellness reimbursement, parental leave, family-building support, and One Medical memberships.
• Retirement benefits include a 401(k) with a 6% immediately vested employer match and incentive equity.
• Relocation support may be available for new hires.
• Workplace perks include catered meals, team events, mission-success celebrations, and complimentary EV charging.