Senior Propulsion Engineer - Hardware and Bus Systems
Varda Space Industries · El Segundo, California, United States
Posted about 3 months ago · $140,333 – $179,314
or apply directly on Varda Space Industries's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 81 days Varda Space Industries's roles stay open a median of 81 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- Yes 81% of Varda Space Industries's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at Varda Space Industries
- high 85 stale, 0 reposted of 86 open
- Hiring momentum
- 215 roles opened in the last 90 days ↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
- Last confirmed on the employer's board
- 2026-10-23
Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from Varda Space Industries's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for Varda Space Industries.
About this role
As a Senior Propulsion Engineer at Varda, you will take ownership of propulsion subsystems and hardware for satellite buses, focusing on system architecture, analysis, and mechanical design. Your role involves designing and testing propulsion flight hardware, executing upgrades for reliability, and collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams. You will also mentor junior engineers and lead anomaly investigations to enhance quality and performance.
- benefits
- 5/5
- freshness
- 1/5
- career value
- 4/5
- role clarity
- 5/5
- pay transparency
- 5/5
Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of Varda Space Industries as an employer.
What you need
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience considered (typically 3–6+ years)
- 3+ years of hands-on experience in propulsion or fluid systems definition, design, build, and test for spacecraft or launch vehicles
- Deep working knowledge of flight fluid system hardware: pressurized components, tubing, fittings, seals, valves, and instrumentation
- Proficiency reading and authoring P&IDs
- Proficiency with CAD tools (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, NX) and PLM software
- Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight campaigns, including console operations
Nice to have
- 6+ years of spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion experience, including satellite bus-level propulsion architectures (monopropellant, bipropellant, cold gas systems)
- Hands-on experience building Python scripts or spreadsheet tools to automate recurring propulsion analysis & data review workflows
- Structural analysis experience using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or equivalent FEA tools applied to propulsion or fluid system hardware
- Experience generating and reviewing technical drawings and applying GD&T per ASME Y14.5 standards
- Experience with spacecraft-grade propellants including cryogenic, hypergolic, or high-test peroxide systems
What you get
- 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
Worth weighing
- No remote work option mentioned; this role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
- The role requires significant hands-on technical ownership, which may not suit those preferring less responsibility
- The company is relatively new, founded in January 2021, which may imply a fast-paced and evolving work environment
Summarised from Varda Space Industries's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by Varda Space Industries on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-10-23. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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