Manager, Manufacturing Engineering

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 Role

As the Manager, Manufacturing Engineering, you will own Varda's ability to meet increasing vehicle production cadence targets. This role is responsible for developing and improving manufacturing processes, production layouts, and tooling to transition evolving vehicle designs into multiple concurrent builds at scale. You will lead a team of manufacturing engineers and specialists responsible for piece parts and subassemblies through final vehicle integration. Working cross-functionally with design engineering, production, and supply chain, you will ensure Varda’s vehicles can be built safely and at rate to meet customer demand.

Responsibilities

• Own manufacturing engineering strategy and execution to enable increasing vehicle production cadence

• Build and lead a high performing team of manufacturing engineers and specialists

• Provide technical direction to improve team and build processes to scale toward increasing build rate

• Develop and scale manufacturing processes for evolving vehicle designs

• Partner with design engineering to improve vehicle designs for manufacturability and production scale

• Proactively coordinate with engineering and supply chain to improve the vehicle lead times and quality

• Review work instructions to make change recommendations when required and identify tooling/training gaps

• Lead the transition of hardware from development into production, with a focus on manufacturability, repeatability, quality, and throughput

• Establish manufacturing readiness plans, capacity models, and build strategies to support production targets

• Create and maintain manufacturing plans, process flows, work instructions, and build documentation

• Define equipment, tooling, and facility needs required to meet future rate goals

Basic Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Industrial Engineering (or related field).

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering of complex hardware with experience supporting final assembly and integration

• People management experience (3+ years preferred).

• Teamwork, communication (verbal and written), and problem solving in a collaborative environment

• Proven experience working on complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries 

• Strong first principles thinking

• Hands-on experience building complex vehicles

• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.

• Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing

• Hands-on position may require standing for up to 6 hours a day and working directly with hardware on the floor

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Knowledge of aerospace vehicle systems

• Experience with project management of the full lifecycle of a project

• Capability to solve complex problems autonomously as an individual or as a member of an integrated team

• Experience moving teams and processes from development to production

• Ability to read engineering drawings and schematics

• Experience with aerospace hardware development practices (e.g., qualification testing practices, cleanliness, ESD, grounding, etc.) 

• Experience across structures, propulsion, and/or avionics production

• Prior work in a technical leadership role for a launch vehicle or satellite development effort

• Experience with Unigraphics NX or similar CAD software

Pay Range

• $150,000 - $198,000

• 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 long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

ITAR Requirements

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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.

Benefits

• Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side

• 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)

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.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

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