About the role

About Varda

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.

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

About This Role

Varda is building the infrastructure for in-space manufacturing and routine return from orbit. As Environmental Test Lab Manager, you will lead the team and facilities responsible for proving our spacecraft can survive launch, spaceflight, and return to Earth. This is a hands-on leadership role focused on executing fast, rigorous environmental test campaigns that keep flight hardware moving and missions on track.

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day environmental test lab operations for spacecraft and vehicle hardware
Plan and execute vibration, shock, thermal, and thermal vacuum test campaigns
Partner with design, production, integration, and mission teams to define test requirements and priorities
Build and improve lab processes, procedures, safety practices, and test readiness standards
Manage lab technicians and test engineers while driving high standards for execution and documentation
Own equipment readiness, calibration, maintenance, and lab capacity planning
Support anomaly resolution, failure investigations, and test report generation
Coordinate outside test support when needed

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related technical field
5+ years of environmental test experience on aerospace or other high-reliability hardware
Experience with vibe, shock, thermal cycling, and TVAC testing
Strong leadership, organization, and cross-functional communication skills
Ability to move quickly and make sound decisions around flight hardware

Preferred Qualifications

Experience testing spacecraft, reentry systems, or launch vehicle hardware
Familiarity with qualification and acceptance testing in aerospace
Background with additional test methods such as EMI/EMC, acoustics, leak, or pressure testing
Experience scaling lab operations in a fast-paced hardware company

Pay Range
- Salary Range: $130,000 - $160,050/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

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.

Benefits

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):

Health & Wellness

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
Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
Complimentary EV charging
Dog-friendly office space

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.

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

Aplyr's read

Varda Space Industries pioneers in-space manufacturing, attracting talent passionate about revolutionizing material production in microgravity environments.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Varda is at the forefront of in-space manufacturing, a nascent yet promising industry.
•The company offers roles across diverse fields, from engineering to cybersecurity, indicating robust growth.
•Varda's focus on microgravity environments opens unique research and development opportunities.

What to watch

•In-space manufacturing is an emerging field with uncertain market demand.
•The company may face high operational costs due to the complexity of space-based projects.
•Regulatory challenges in aerospace could impact project timelines and costs.

Why Varda Space Industries

•Varda focuses on manufacturing in microgravity, a niche with few direct competitors.
•The company integrates aerospace engineering with pharmaceutical and biologics research.
•Varda's roles span from technical engineering to hospitality, reflecting a broad operational scope.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About Varda Space Industries

Varda Space Industries

varda.com

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Varda Space Industries is a company focused on developing technology for in-space manufacturing, aiming to revolutionize the production of materials and products in microgravity environments.