Varda Space Industries

Aerospace

AutomationandControlsSoftwareEngineer

$95–135k ~AI est. El Segundo, California, United States FULL TIME
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Mid+ candidates.

The Brief

“Automation and Controls Software Engineer at Varda Space Industries. Skills: Automation, Controls, Software engineering, Hardware integration. Design test systems. Build test systems”

Industry & Context.

Aerospace
Eligibility Requirements

U.S. persons only

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, 2+ years industry experience, Python skills, Hands-on hardware integration, Modern PLC ecosystem experience, Comfort working across full stack, Thrive in fast-paced startup

Nice to Have

Custom control frameworks experience, Advanced EtherCAT expertise

What You'll Do.

Maintain test systems

Integrate with external hardware

Develop PLC framework

Extend EtherCAT tooling

Contribute to architecture decisions

Own systems end-to-end

Champion sustainable practices

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Propulsion teams; Avionics teams; GNC teams; Manufacturing teams

Full 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. 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 an Automation and Controls 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 delive

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