Senior Avionics Systems Engineer

Full Timesenior

El Segundo, California, United StatesPosted 15 days ago

Role Overview

Vardaspace is hiring a Senior Avionics Systems Engineer. This is a full-time role in El Segundo, California. posted 2 weeks ago. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.

Resume Keywords to Include

Make sure these keywords appear in your resume to improve ATS scoring

PythonRUnixTelemetryORBenefitsComplianceVarda

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.

About this Role

As an Avionics Systems Engineer, you will have a comprehensive role overseeing the design, integration, and testing of avionics systems for the Winnebago vehicle. You will ensure that all systems are ready for both launch and operational phases, requiring a deep understanding of avionics system design, manufacturing processes, and operational protocols. This role involves close collaboration with various engineering teams, where you will navigate and resolve conflicting requirements to achieve seamless system integration. Your expertise will be crucial in
ensuring the vehicle meets its mission objectives, from space manufacturing to hypersonic testing during reentry.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with cross functional teams to define project scopes and initial requirements, guiding designs from concept to prototype and full-scale production.
Develop electrical architecture, system diagrams, and budgets to account for power, telemetry, channel count, size, and mass predictions used to communicate closing vehicle solutions to company level objectives.
Analyze architecture for potential faults and risks, develop comprehensive mitigation plans, resolve uncertainties, and collaborate on Fault Detection Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) or operational workarounds when hardware solutions are unfeasible.
Conduct comprehensive verification plans for avionics systems on flight and HITL hardware, ensuring readiness for launch and compliance with mission objectives for space and reentry operations
Participate in mission operations as an Avionics specialist or system operator, where you’ll determine system health, suggest corrective actions, and to reentry commit criteria for operational success.
Oversee the integration of the Winnebago avionics systems, acting as the primary point of contact for integrated systems investigations
Design, build, and operate the Hardware In The Loop (HITL) testbeds, simulating the spacecraft on the ground to ensure all systems are mission ready
Develop avionics ground infrastructure, supporting the design and integration of test racks and R&D equipment used to power and communicate with the flight vehicles. Contribute to developing engineering best practices, focusing on increased test automation and efficiency.
Draw from your experiences to help mentor and train new engineers, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the team.

Basic Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
Experience: At least 5 years of experience in system design, test planning, and validation.
Programming Skills: Proficiency in programming and debugging with Python.
Technical Expertise: Experience with power supplies, modular DAQ systems, RTD and 4-20mA devices, and general test equipment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Proven experience taking vehicle electrical systems from concept to operational production.
Prior experience setting up HITL testbeds, managing configuration control, and conducting system level tests.
Familiarity with Unix environments and the ability to use command line utilities.
Experience developing test cases and test equipment to meet vehicle operating conditions.
Strong project or program management skills

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

On-site

96 other open roles at Vardaspace on TryApplyNow.

View all 97 roles at Vardaspace

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Senior Avionics Systems 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 Senior Avionics Systems 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 Senior Avionics Systems 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 Senior Avionics Systems Engineer role at Vardaspace posted?

This role was posted on June 24, 2026 (15 days ago). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.

How much experience does the Senior Avionics Systems Engineer role at Vardaspace require?

This is a senior-level position. Most senior roles call for 5+ years of directly relevant experience. Vardaspace lists their specific requirements in the description below, so review the must-have qualifications closely before applying.