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 (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

As the VP of W-Series Vehicles at Varda, you will own Varda's W-Series engineering programs end-to-end from concept to flight with the key performance metric of successful flight cadence. In this role you will translate company objectives into program directives for Varda's evolving vehicle capabilities including, but not limited to determining block upgrades, coordinating engineering project plans, setting the standard for engineering staffing, reporting on engineering objectives, forecasting engineering demands, working across teams to drive solutions to resource constraints, technical risk reduction, and schedule acceleration. You will both lead a team directly and lead the multidisciplinary engineering efforts indirectly across our W-Series reentry programs to enable commercial, on-orbit pharmaceutical manufacturing at cadence and hypersonic testbed missions, always on time or early. The VP of W-Series Vehicles excels across a breadth of functions including systems engineering, project management, and vehicle integration as they play a critical and central role in building both the company and its technology to establish the first routine industrial operations off our home planet.

Responsibilities

Deliver evolving W-Series vehicles at increasing cadence on time or early.
Translate company objectives into engineering priorities and execution strategy.
Design, implement, and own Varda's W-Series program end-to-end from concept development to recovered vehicles.
Set technical direction to improve the team and engineering developments toward increasing cadence.
Manage the vehicle fleet throughout the design-build-test-fly process.
- Own the successful implementation of changes in vehicle hardware & software configuration.
- Drive new engineering developments and execution across Varda engineering.
- Identify and clear roadblocks in the vehicle developments or builds while evaluating company schedule and risk.
- Ensure successful flight operations execution as an operator and/or systems engineer.
Identify and determine necessary project scope and engineering assignments with aggressive targets in order to meet Varda engineering objectives.
Lead, manage, and hire a team of program and/or project managers to drive cross-program trades and execution.
Maintains interfaces and owns deliverables between Varda engineering and our launch vehicle provider.
Monitor, report, and forecast vehicle status, schedule, and critical path items across the program for both the engineering team and executives.
Leads and organizes program or technical reviews enforcing a rigorous engineering team standard: trade studies, design reviews, readiness reviews, technical interchange meetings, etc.
Travel as needed for external partner, supplier, and/or customer objectives.
Coordinate with supply chain, mission management, business development, and other organizations at Varda to improve the vehicle and achieve engineering objectives.

Basic Qualifications

11+ years of experience in engineering, project, and/or program management positions.
4+ years of aerospace vehicle program management experience.
Bachelor's degree in an engineering, math, or physics discipline.
Fingerprints in space.
Ability to lead strategy and execution of a next generation aerospace engineering team.
Experience on an engineering team designing, building, and successfully flying aerospace hardware or software.
Experience interfacing with cross-disciplinary engineering teams, production teams, and customers.
Strong program and project management fundamentals.
Exceptional teamwork, communication (verbal and written), and problem solving in a collaborative environment.
First principles thinking.
U.S. Person status is required as this position needs to access export-controlled data.
Desire to work in a technically complex and fast-moving environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Deep understanding of interdisciplinary engineering fundamentals and dependencies.
Experience building engineering teams and processes from zero to one.
Willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.
Excellent negotiation, conflict resolution, and leadership skills.
Experience in a customer-facing role in the aerospace engineering industry.
Experience interfacing with regulatory agencies in aerospace engineering.
Ability to work in a fast-paced startup environment.
Experience as an engineer owning systems, hardware, or software that has flown.
4+ years of experience leading an engineering team.
Experience with Unigraphics NX or similar CAD software.

Pay Band

Salary range: $200,000 - $270,000/per year.
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
You will be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

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. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current 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 in the U.S.)
Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits

Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
401(k) matching (interns excluded)
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

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