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. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

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 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 - $170,000/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 incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

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

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. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our 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).

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

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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.