Varda Space Industries Jobs Hiring Now
Varda Space Industries is hiring for 22 open roles on Migrate Mate as of July 16, 2026, concentrated in product management and civil & structural engineering, with listed salaries up to about $246,000. Migrate Mate updates Varda Space Industries's live openings daily. Varda Space Industries is a space manufacturing company that develops reentry vehicles and in-space processing platforms to produce materials in orbit that are difficult or impossible to manufacture on Earth.
Find Varda Space Industries JobsOverview
Varda Space Industries hiring data on Migrate Mate, as of July 16, 2026.
- Open jobs
- 22
- Top team
- Product Management
- Seniority
- Mid to senior level
- Work type
- 0% remote or hybrid
- Top location
- El Segundo
- Salary range
- $104,000–$246,000
Listed salaries for Varda Space Industries roles on Migrate Mate range from about $104,000 to $246,000 per year across 22 open roles, as of July 16, 2026. One role lists an hourly contract rate.
Open Roles at Varda Space Industries
Showing 22 of 22+ Varda Space Industries jobs
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 the Role
As a Controls and Automation Software Engineer at Varda, you will be at the center of one of the most technically demanding challenges in the industry: building the bespoke test infrastructure that qualifies spaceflight hardware for orbit. This is not a role for someone who wants to work inside a well-worn playbook. You will design, build, and own sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems — from propulsion test stands to environmental qualification chambers to full spacecraft-level integration testing.
You will work at the intersection of software, electrical, and mechanical domains, collaborating with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver infrastructure that meets demanding timelines. Our stack is intentionally modern and software-engineering-focused, including a custom PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling built in-house. We want engineers who are energized — not intimidated — by the opportunity to shape how test automation is done across an entire organization.
This is a high-ownership role on a small, growing team. You will have a meaningful voice in architecture decisions and the chance to define standards that will outlast any single program. If you thrive when the scope is broad, the stakes are real, and the problems are genuinely novel, this is your role.
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
- Integrate with a wide range of external hardware, including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
- Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
- Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) versus Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications.
- Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end — from electrical design through commissioning.
- Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines.
- Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 2+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, or industrial automation.
- Strong Python skills, particularly for hardware control or test automation applications.
- Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar communication standards.
- Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem — ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3) — or a demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise there.
- Comfort working across the full stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, and debugging hardware.
- Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift, and end-to-end ownership of problems is expected.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks, rather than relying solely on vendor-provided stacks.
- Advanced EtherCAT expertise beyond consumer-level usage — including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
- Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 language suite.
- Experience designing deterministic, hard real-time control loops with sub-millisecond cycle times.
- Strong intuition for when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration, and a clear understanding of the tradeoffs between the two.
- Bare-metal or embedded firmware development experience.
- Experience with Docker and DevOps tooling for test infrastructure deployment and reproducibility.
- Familiarity with time-series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar platforms.
- Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development.
- Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
- Hands-on experience working with high-pressure gas or fluid systems.
- Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi-subsystem test infrastructure.
- Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and associated documentation requirements.
- Experience developing safety-related control systems and evaluating proposed solutions for reducing safety-related risks.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary range: $131,000 – $184,000 per year, commensurate with skills, experience, education, and performance.
- Eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
- On-site role in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary are determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
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 Dog-friendly office space
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
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 the Role
As a Controls and Automation Software Engineer at Varda, you will be at the center of one of the most technically demanding challenges in the industry: building the bespoke test infrastructure that qualifies spaceflight hardware for orbit. This is not a role for someone who wants to work inside a well-worn playbook. You will design, build, and own sophisticated ground support equipment (GSE) and test systems — from propulsion test stands to environmental qualification chambers to full spacecraft-level integration testing.
You will work at the intersection of software, electrical, and mechanical domains, collaborating with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver infrastructure that meets demanding timelines. Our stack is intentionally modern and software-engineering-focused, including a custom PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling built in-house. We want engineers who are energized — not intimidated — by the opportunity to shape how test automation is done across an entire organization.
This is a high-ownership role on a small, growing team. You will have a meaningful voice in architecture decisions and the chance to define standards that will outlast any single program. If you thrive when the scope is broad, the stakes are real, and the problems are genuinely novel, this is your role.
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations.
- Integrate with a wide range of external hardware, including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation.
- Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs.
- Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) versus Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications.
- Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end — from electrical design through commissioning.
- Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines.
- Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
- 2+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, or industrial automation.
- Strong Python skills, particularly for hardware control or test automation applications.
- Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar communication standards.
- Experience with at least one modern PLC ecosystem — ideally Beckhoff TwinCAT 3 with structured text (IEC 61131-3) — or a demonstrated eagerness to develop deep expertise there.
- Comfort working across the full stack: writing control software, designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, and debugging hardware.
- Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift, and end-to-end ownership of problems is expected.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Experience working with custom or in-house control frameworks, rather than relying solely on vendor-provided stacks.
- Advanced EtherCAT expertise beyond consumer-level usage — including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work.
- Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 language suite.
- Experience designing deterministic, hard real-time control loops with sub-millisecond cycle times.
- Strong intuition for when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration, and a clear understanding of the tradeoffs between the two.
- Bare-metal or embedded firmware development experience.
- Experience with Docker and DevOps tooling for test infrastructure deployment and reproducibility.
- Familiarity with time-series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar platforms.
- Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development.
- Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing.
- Hands-on experience working with high-pressure gas or fluid systems.
- Experience developing propulsion test stands or other complex, multi-subsystem test infrastructure.
- Familiarity with spacecraft qualification standards and associated documentation requirements.
- Experience developing safety-related control systems and evaluating proposed solutions for reducing safety-related risks.
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary range: $131,000 – $184,000 per year, commensurate with skills, experience, education, and performance.
- Eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.
- On-site role in El Segundo, CA.
- Leveling and base salary are determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance
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 Dog-friendly office space
ITAR Requirements
Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire "U.S. persons" who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
"US person" means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Read more Read more
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.
Job Roles at Varda Space Industries
Working at Varda Space Industries
Varda Space Industries's 22 open roles are mid to senior level, and about 0% are remote or hybrid. The most active teams are product management, civil & structural engineering, and data analytics. Varda Space Industries develops spacecraft and reentry vehicles designed to manufacture materials in the microgravity environment of orbit, with applications in pharmaceuticals, fiber optics, and other precision industries. The work spans embedded flight software, guidance and navigation systems, mechanisms engineering, avionics hardware, and supply chain operations supporting both the spacecraft and its payload systems. Most Varda Space Industries roles are based in El Segundo, with some in Manhattan Beach and Los Angeles.
Explore more roles by function
Browse thousands of live openings across engineering, sales, product, and more, and apply in just a few clicks.
Browse jobs by roleVarda Space Industries Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How many jobs is Varda Space Industries hiring for right now?
Varda Space Industries is hiring for 22 open roles on Migrate Mate as of July 16, 2026, updated daily, concentrated in product management and civil & structural engineering. Open positions span engineering disciplines including flight software, guidance and navigation, avionics hardware, mechanisms, and supply chain, alongside applications engineering and systems administration roles.
What kinds of roles does Varda Space Industries hire for?
The most active teams are product management, civil & structural engineering, and data analytics. Varda Space Industries hires across space flight software, embedded systems, guidance and navigation, avionics hardware development, mechanisms engineering, supply chain, and applications engineering for payload programs including pharmaceutical manufacturing. Systems and network administration roles support ground and internal infrastructure. Most postings are mid to senior level.
Are Varda Space Industries jobs remote or in-person?
Mostly on-site. About 0% of Varda Space Industries's open roles on Migrate Mate are remote or hybrid as of July 16, 2026, with the rest based in El Segundo. Each Varda Space Industries listing shows its work location so you can filter before applying.
How do I apply to a job at Varda Space Industries?
Find a Varda Space Industries role on Migrate Mate, then follow the listing directly to Varda Space Industries's own careers page to submit your application. Varda Space Industries manages its own hiring process, including application review, interviews, and offers, independently of Migrate Mate.
What do Varda Space Industries jobs pay?
Listed salaries for Varda Space Industries roles on Migrate Mate range from about $104,000 to $246,000 per year as of July 16, 2026, with most postings at mid to senior level. One role lists an hourly contract rate. Exact pay is set by Varda Space Industries and shown on each listing.
Does Varda Space Industries hire entry-level?
Most of Varda Space Industries's open roles on Migrate Mate are mid to senior level as of July 16, 2026. Entry-level openings are limited. Check individual Varda Space Industries listings for stated experience requirements.
Where is Varda Space Industries hiring?
Most Varda Space Industries roles are based in El Segundo, with some in Manhattan Beach and Los Angeles, and about 0% offer remote or hybrid work as of July 16, 2026. Migrate Mate shows the location on each listing.