Manager of Combustion Devices

Responsibilities

• Own all combustion devices within the Varda propulsion team and their interfaces end-to-end across the engineering organization and product lifecycles.
• Set the technical direction for combustion devices, driving projects from concept through implementation and flight.
• Lead, grow, and hire the propulsion engineering team responsible for thruster development and operations.
• Drive, define, and map interfaces with partner disciplines including GNC, structures, thermal, and avionics.
• Represent the combustion devices discipline in cross-functional forums and execute thruster test campaigns and in-flight operations.
• Define and uphold high technical standards by applying interdisciplinary engineering principles to the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering field.
• 6+ years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, including design, build, and test of chemical propulsion systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead people, including experience managing, mentoring, or technically leading an engineering team.
• Deep technical understanding of chemical propulsion systems, including thermal/performance considerations and manufacturing techniques.
• Proficiency with CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) software.
• U.S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual).

Preferred Qualifications

• 8+ years in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion with breadth across design, analysis, test, and operations.
• Prior formal management experience involving hiring and performance management.
• Experience with monopropellant or bipropellant chemical propulsion systems.
• Familiarity with injector design, thermo-structural analysis, or stability analysis.
• Experience with launch site processing or flight operations.

Benefits

• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance for employees and dependents.
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested).
• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up.
• Flexible PTO policy plus 12 paid holidays.
• Daily lunch provided and dinner provided twice weekly.
• Wellness reimbursement and comprehensive parental leave.

About the Company

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind by creating the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth.