Flight Software Engineer

Full Timejunior

El Segundo, California, United StatesPosted Yesterday

Role Overview

Vardaspace is hiring a entry-level Flight Software Engineer. This is a full-time role in El Segundo, California. posted yesterday. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.

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Job description

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.

What you will do (Job Responsibilities)

The Flight Software team is responsible for determining how our spacecraft behaves and operates in orbit and building reliable software to ensure it happens. The team is responsible for all phases of development, starting from requirements capture through test, and flight operational support.

Develop reliable flight software that determine how the spacecraft, satellite bus, and reentry capsule operate throughout the entire mission.
Write quality structured bare metal, RTOS, or Linux based software for embedded processors in C++.
Own all aspects of software development, from design, testing, and integration.
Scope projects including requirements capture and initial design trades given open-ended problems.
Ensure system quality and performance through software test, verification, and validation (V&V) technique.
Teamwork, communicate and problem solve in a collaborative environment.

What you will bring (Basic Qualifications)

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, physics, engineering or equivalent technical experience in safety critical software.
3+ years of experience in the development of spacecraft or similar safety critical software.
Experience with development in C++, along with a strong understanding of the language concepts.

What would be a plus (Preferred Qualifications)

End-to-end experience building and launching a spacecraft.
Experience developing and testing real-time embedded systems.
Experience with safety-critical software, especially for aerospace applications.
Experience with CCSDS telemetry and telecommand system.
Experience with F' or cFS framework.
Experience with Python, or Rust.
Knowledge of basic analog and digital electronics.
Familiarity with SPI, I2C, CAN, EtherCAT.

How Varda compensates

Salary range: $131,000 - $184,000.
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.
Offer compensation also includes the ability to receive stock options under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan.

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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

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

About Vardaspace

Vardaspace

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Flight Software Engineer position at Vardaspace?

Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to Vardaspace. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.

Where is the Flight Software Engineer position at Vardaspace located?

This position is based in El Segundo, California. Vardaspace has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.

What does a Flight Software Engineer at Vardaspace earn?

Vardaspace has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.

When was the Flight Software Engineer role at Vardaspace posted?

This role was posted on July 8, 2026 (yesterday). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.

Is the Flight Software Engineer role at Vardaspace entry-level?

Yes. This is an entry-level position. Strong candidates typically have 0-2 years of relevant work experience, internships, or significant project work. Read the full description for any specific qualification requirements Vardaspace has listed.