Varda Space Industries, Inc.
Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer El Segundo, California, United States
Varda Space Industries, Inc., El Segundo, California, United States, 90245
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 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 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 and is backed by investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and others.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda and help build a bustling in‑space ecosystem.
About The Role The Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer serves as a key member of the vehicle engineering team. You will develop and maintain thermal system architectures and collaborate cross‑functionally with hardware, production, software, and mission ops teams to ensure vehicle health and performance through all mission phases.
Your work will directly influence the design and performance of Varda’s spacecraft from concept and test to validation. You will often flex between quick evaluations and high‑fidelity analysis to assess vehicle impact and risk, and contribute to thermal data processing and documentation workflows as we scale vehicle cadence.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain integrated thermal analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles.
Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines to define thermal hardware requirements and iterate on designs based on simulation results.
Publish flight predictions and provide actionable guidance to the larger engineering team.
Ensure the spacecraft remains within operating and survival limits during all mission phases via passive and active thermal control, seeking solutions that provide operational simplicity and system robustness.
Create and maintain tools and systems for thermal simulation and flight data processing.
Plan and execute Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing.
Anchor thermal models to vehicle‑level Thermal Vacuum testing and/or flight data to improve model fidelity.
Provide guidance to vehicle‑level testing, such as thermal bakeout, Vehicle‑In‑The‑Loop (VITL), propulsion hot fire, etc.
Work independently with minimal technical oversight.
Work on open‑ended problems to inform technical decisions, balancing efficiency and fidelity.
Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical peer reviewer.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related discipline with a minimum of 5+ years of related professional experience, or a Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline and 3+ years of related professional experience.
Experience and knowledge in developing passive and active thermal control systems.
Proficiency in detailed thermal analysis and troubleshooting in programs such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, MSC Nastran.
Experience anchoring thermal models to test and/or flight data.
Experience in planning and executing Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVac) testing.
Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation.
Ability to structure open‑ended problems and perform system balance sizing with hand calculations or simplified simulations.
Experience in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks.
Familiarity with thermal margins and qualification test requirements in SMC‑S‑016.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication (structures, avionics, software, production, GNC, etc.).
Experience in project management/leadership for a multidisciplinary design or test campaign.
Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast‑moving organization.
Preferred Skills and Experience
7–10+ years of related professional work experience.
Experience of an entire spacecraft vehicle lifecycle, from initial concept, design development, production, integration, and test to mission operations.
Experience in thermal design and analysis of reentry systems.
A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast‑paced environment.
Pay Range
$150,000 – $180,000 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 and is backed by investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and others.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.
Join Varda and help build a bustling in‑space ecosystem.
About The Role The Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer serves as a key member of the vehicle engineering team. You will develop and maintain thermal system architectures and collaborate cross‑functionally with hardware, production, software, and mission ops teams to ensure vehicle health and performance through all mission phases.
Your work will directly influence the design and performance of Varda’s spacecraft from concept and test to validation. You will often flex between quick evaluations and high‑fidelity analysis to assess vehicle impact and risk, and contribute to thermal data processing and documentation workflows as we scale vehicle cadence.
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain integrated thermal analysis models for Varda’s space vehicles.
Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines to define thermal hardware requirements and iterate on designs based on simulation results.
Publish flight predictions and provide actionable guidance to the larger engineering team.
Ensure the spacecraft remains within operating and survival limits during all mission phases via passive and active thermal control, seeking solutions that provide operational simplicity and system robustness.
Create and maintain tools and systems for thermal simulation and flight data processing.
Plan and execute Thermal Vacuum (TVac) testing.
Anchor thermal models to vehicle‑level Thermal Vacuum testing and/or flight data to improve model fidelity.
Provide guidance to vehicle‑level testing, such as thermal bakeout, Vehicle‑In‑The‑Loop (VITL), propulsion hot fire, etc.
Work independently with minimal technical oversight.
Work on open‑ended problems to inform technical decisions, balancing efficiency and fidelity.
Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical peer reviewer.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related discipline with a minimum of 5+ years of related professional experience, or a Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline and 3+ years of related professional experience.
Experience and knowledge in developing passive and active thermal control systems.
Proficiency in detailed thermal analysis and troubleshooting in programs such as Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, MSC Nastran.
Experience anchoring thermal models to test and/or flight data.
Experience in planning and executing Thermal Vacuum Chamber (TVac) testing.
Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation.
Ability to structure open‑ended problems and perform system balance sizing with hand calculations or simplified simulations.
Experience in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks.
Familiarity with thermal margins and qualification test requirements in SMC‑S‑016.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication (structures, avionics, software, production, GNC, etc.).
Experience in project management/leadership for a multidisciplinary design or test campaign.
Ability to successfully respond to evolving requirements in a fast‑moving organization.
Preferred Skills and Experience
7–10+ years of related professional work experience.
Experience of an entire spacecraft vehicle lifecycle, from initial concept, design development, production, integration, and test to mission operations.
Experience in thermal design and analysis of reentry systems.
A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast‑paced environment.
Pay Range
$150,000 – $180,000 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.
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.
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.
Interested in building your career at Varda Space Industries? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
#J-18808-Ljbffr