Varda Space Industries
Principal Aerodynamics Engineer
Varda Space Industries, El Segundo, California, United States, 90245
Overview
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 fiber optics, products that can only be manufactured in space are crucial to life on Earth. 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.
Team & Leadership Our team is 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 backing from world‑class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst and Also Capital.
Location Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Additional offices are located in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon).
Position Summary The
Principal Aerodynamics Engineer
will lead the aerodynamic development of Varda’s next reentry vehicle – from rarefied entry, to hypersonic maneuvering, and subsonic terminal approach. The ideal candidate has experience with 6‑DOF reentry vehicle dynamics, hypersonic CFD simulations, and running wind tunnel campaigns. The candidate should have been involved in the aerodynamic development of a currently‑flying vehicle from cradle to grave.
Responsibilities • Design, analyze, and validate reentry vehicle aerodynamics across flight regimes.
• Conduct CFD and DSMC simulations for hypersonic and subsonic flows.
• Oversee wind tunnel campaigns and flight test data analysis.
• Develop aerodynamic databases and contribute to vehicle integration and flight operations.
Basic Qualifications
BS in engineering or physics with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
Significant contribution to aerodynamic development of a hypersonic vehicle that has flown or is expected to fly in the next 5 years.
Managed an aerodynamic or flight program collecting data from tests, CFD, flight, and other sources.
Experience running CFD and DSMC simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows (Fun3D, Laura, DPLR, US3D, Sparta, DAC, CBAero).
Comfortable building structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise.
Experience with Matlab or Python languages.
Experience with wind tunnel campaigns.
Experience developing an aerodynamic database for a vehicle from scratch.
Basic technical breadth across other disciplines (avionics, software, GNC, etc.).
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication.
Must be able to obtain a security clearance.
Preferred Experience
MS or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering specializing in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics.
Familiarity with modeling vehicle dynamics in POST2 or similar tools.
Experience sizing ablative or non‑ablative thermal protection systems.
Experience with flight reconstruction and post‑flight performance evaluations.
Experience with flight testing new aerodynamic features and concepts.
Hold a Secret or TS clearance.
Pay Range
Principal Aerodynamics Engineer:
$192,500.00 – $221,375.00 per year.
Leveling and base salary are determined by job‑related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
You will be eligible for long‑term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long‑term cash awards.
Benefits
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded).
401(k) matching (interns excluded).
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded).
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental.
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded).
Equal Opportunity Employer 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.
Compliance Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Employees may be exposed to export‑controlled items; access to such technology requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Therefore, we hire only “U.S. Persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
“U.S. 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.).
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.
Contact Interested in building your career at Varda Space Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
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 fiber optics, products that can only be manufactured in space are crucial to life on Earth. 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.
Team & Leadership Our team is 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 backing from world‑class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst and Also Capital.
Location Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Additional offices are located in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon).
Position Summary The
Principal Aerodynamics Engineer
will lead the aerodynamic development of Varda’s next reentry vehicle – from rarefied entry, to hypersonic maneuvering, and subsonic terminal approach. The ideal candidate has experience with 6‑DOF reentry vehicle dynamics, hypersonic CFD simulations, and running wind tunnel campaigns. The candidate should have been involved in the aerodynamic development of a currently‑flying vehicle from cradle to grave.
Responsibilities • Design, analyze, and validate reentry vehicle aerodynamics across flight regimes.
• Conduct CFD and DSMC simulations for hypersonic and subsonic flows.
• Oversee wind tunnel campaigns and flight test data analysis.
• Develop aerodynamic databases and contribute to vehicle integration and flight operations.
Basic Qualifications
BS in engineering or physics with 5+ years of relevant industry experience.
Significant contribution to aerodynamic development of a hypersonic vehicle that has flown or is expected to fly in the next 5 years.
Managed an aerodynamic or flight program collecting data from tests, CFD, flight, and other sources.
Experience running CFD and DSMC simulations of hypersonic and subsonic flows (Fun3D, Laura, DPLR, US3D, Sparta, DAC, CBAero).
Comfortable building structured and unstructured meshes in Pointwise.
Experience with Matlab or Python languages.
Experience with wind tunnel campaigns.
Experience developing an aerodynamic database for a vehicle from scratch.
Basic technical breadth across other disciplines (avionics, software, GNC, etc.).
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication.
Must be able to obtain a security clearance.
Preferred Experience
MS or PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering specializing in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics.
Familiarity with modeling vehicle dynamics in POST2 or similar tools.
Experience sizing ablative or non‑ablative thermal protection systems.
Experience with flight reconstruction and post‑flight performance evaluations.
Experience with flight testing new aerodynamic features and concepts.
Hold a Secret or TS clearance.
Pay Range
Principal Aerodynamics Engineer:
$192,500.00 – $221,375.00 per year.
Leveling and base salary are determined by job‑related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance.
You will be eligible for long‑term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long‑term cash awards.
Benefits
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded).
401(k) matching (interns excluded).
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded).
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental.
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded).
Equal Opportunity Employer 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.
Compliance Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Employees may be exposed to export‑controlled items; access to such technology requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Therefore, we hire only “U.S. Persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.
“U.S. 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.).
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.
Contact Interested in building your career at Varda Space Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
#J-18808-Ljbffr