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Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer

Join Varda as a Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer to enhance the reliability of spacecraft hardware production.

Location
El Segundo, California, United States
Compensation
$140.3k–$179.3k/yr
Level
senior
Type
full time · On-site

Posted by employer 6 days ago

First seen on Joblaze 6 days ago

Last verified on the company career page 2 days ago

What you'll build

  • Create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for vehicle hardware
  • Lead failure investigations in production, test, and operation
  • Provide peer review of hardware during design reviews
  • Perform failure modes and effects analyses
  • Support vehicle level risk management

Must have

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or material sciences engineering
  • 5+ years professional experience in aerospace, design, quality, or related engineering role
  • Hands-on hardware test, qualification, troubleshooting, or failure analysis experience

Nice to have

  • Full project lifecycle ownership experience
  • Proficiency with quality tools such as measurement systems analysis
  • Hands-on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, casting, welding

Requirements

Experience
5+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree
Visa
No sponsorship (stated in posting)

Benefits

401k Match Gym Membership Equity/Stock Options Health Insurance Relocation Assistance Parental Leave

Joblaze summary

The Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer at Varda Space plays a crucial role in collaborating with design and manufacturing teams to optimize processes for spacecraft hardware production. This position requires expertise in aerospace engineering, hands-on experience with hardware testing and troubleshooting, and a strong grasp of quality control principles. Ideal candidates will have over five years of relevant experience and a background in high-volume manufacturing environments. Varda's team is composed of industry veterans, fostering a culture of innovation in the commercial space sector.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed 6 days ago — first seen on Joblaze September 19, 2026. Last confirmed on Varda Space's careers page September 23, 2026.
  • Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$126,887).
  • Starts above 47% of 1177 comparable senior other roles in United States we track (median $143,000 across 183 companies).

Quick facts

Is the Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer role remote?
No — this is an on-site role in El Segundo, California, United States.
What's the salary range?
Varda Space lists $140,333–$179,314 for this role.
How much experience is required?
At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer role.
Where is the role based?
Varda Space is hiring for this position in El Segundo, California, United States.
What seniority level is this role?
Varda Space targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer role at Varda Space.

From the original posting

About Varda

About This Role

The Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer partners closely with the design and manufacturing teams to right-size processes and controls to enable scaling the production of spacecraft hardware. Build Reliability Engineers ensure production processes yield verified, reliable hardware at rate. You will flex beyond Build Reliability to support Quality, Flight Reliability, and Mission Assurance. The ideal candidate is a responsible, collaborative, process-oriented engineer with hands-on hardware design/test/manufacturing/troubleshooting experience.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with design engineering and manufacturing teams to create test, manufacturability, and inspection plans for all vehicle hardware.
  • Contain suspect or known non-conforming product, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers.
  • Lead failure investigations in production, test, and operation; identifying and mitigating immediate and underlying root causes to reduce risk and improve the reliability of designs and processes.
  • Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns.
  • Perform failure modes and effects analyses, build requirements compliance matrix tools, and ensure adequate test coverage, change management, and manufacturability of flight hardware.
  • Own vehicle level deliverables for regulatory bodies including requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence.
  • Support Mission Assurance's vehicle level risk management and identification/tracking/execution of mitigations.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in aerospace, computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or material sciences engineering.
  • 5+ years professional experience in aerospace, design, quality, or related engineering role.
  • Hands-on hardware test, qualification, troubleshooting, or failure analysis experience.
  • Commitment to lean quality principles without compromising safety or reliability.
  • Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environments.
  • Experience generating, processing, and/or analyzing data for production insight.
  • Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with a drive to innovate and improve reliability in cutting-edge technology.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Full project lifecycle ownership experience (cradle-to-grave).
  • Proficiency with quality tools such as measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem-solving approaches.
  • Hands-on knowledge of CNC machining, additive manufacturing, casting, welding, fastening, or other special manufacturing processes.

Pay Range

  • Salary range: Senior: $140,333 - $179,314/ 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 incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards.

Benefits

Regular Full-Time Positions:

Health & Wellness 

  • Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays 
  • Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance 
  • 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 

  • $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement 
  • Relocation support for new hires, if needed 

Workplace Experience & Perks 

  • Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
  • Complimentary EV charging

Benefits for Internship Positions:

Health & Wellness  

  • Paid observed holidays.  

Financial  

  • $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.  

Workplace Experience & Perks 

  • Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
  • Complimentary EV charging

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