Mechanisms Engineer

Responsibilities

• Own payload hardware from concept through design, integration, launch, reentry, and recovery
• Design mechanisms, structures, thermal/fluid interfaces, and electromechanical assemblies
• Run structural, thermal, and fluid analyses using hand calculations, simplified models, and FEA
• Build, instrument, and test prototypes and flight hardware
• Collaborate across avionics, software, thermal, and systems teams to define interfaces
• Generate technical documentation including requirements, ICDs, procedures, and test reports
• Support mission operations and post-flight teardown activities

Requirements

• BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or a related engineering discipline
• Strong fundamentals in structures, heat transfer, fluids, and dynamics
• Hands-on experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
• Ability to communicate effectively across multidisciplinary teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience integrating electromechanical actuators, sensors, or thermal/fluid control hardware
• Proficiency with CAD (NX preferred) and FEA tools (Ansys, Nastran)
• Exposure to aerospace environmental testing such as vibration, TVAC, or EMI/EMC
• Experience in customer-facing technical communication
• Ability to obtain a government security clearance

Benefits

• Equity in a fully funded space startup
• 401(k) matching
• Unlimited PTO
• Comprehensive health insurance, including Vision and Dental
• On-site lunch and snacks daily, with dinners provided twice a week
• Maternity and paternity 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.