About the job
Varda Space Industries builds commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical manufacturing and reentry capsules designed for cost efficiency. The company specializes in products enabled by microgravity, such as advanced fiber optics and pharmaceuticals, aiming to bring the benefits of space manufacturing to people on Earth.
Founded in 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, Varda’s team draws on backgrounds from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical firms, and Silicon Valley. The company is supported by Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, and Founders Fund. Headquarters and production are based in El Segundo, California, with offices in Washington, DC, and Huntsville, Alabama.
Role overview
The Lead Principal Mechanisms Engineer for Payloads leads the design and development of complex electromechanical flight hardware. This hardware must operate reliably in orbit, withstand hypersonic reentry, and return to Earth for further analysis and development.
This position shapes the payload architecture for missions focused on pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbeds. The engineer guides projects from initial concept through detailed design, ensuring mission requirements are met throughout each stage.
