Thermal Engineering Manager

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 an office in Washington, D.C.  

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

About this Role 

We are seeking a highly talented, self-motivated technical leader to join our rapidly growing startup as the Manager of Thermal Engineering.  You will be responsible for leading a highly skilled team of thermal engineers in the clean sheet design and development of new spaceflight and reentry vehicles as well as maintaining and upgrading existing vehicle designs.  In this role, you will oversee both spacecraft thermal analysis and management, as well as own thermal hardware, including thermal protection systems (heat shields), paints, and MLI.  You will lead the team through the entire design cycle, from design and build, to test, fly, and operate, all the while setting the standard for quality, rigor and pace of execution. We are looking for engineers with a mastery of thermal fluids engineering fundamentals, who enjoy solving complex and open-ended problems, can work effectively in a fast-paced environment, and share our passion in creating in-space industry.

This is a full-time, exempt position located in our El Segundo headquarters.

Responsibilities

• Lead the thermal team, establishing clear objectives and priorities in alignment with Varda's mission
• Technical leadership of a team of thermal analysts and responsible engineers, overseeing the thermal management of Varda's spacecraft as well as the design, analysis, manufacturing, test, and flight of Varda's thermal protection (heat shield) and hardware systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (structures, avionics, software, integration, test, and operations) to ensure hardware cohesively satisfies all system requirements beyond just thermal.
• Develop, set, and uphold the standard for best practices, to enable the team to execute at the highest standard of design reliability.
• Own, drive, and clearly communicate critical project technical and programmatic decisions to ensure overall project and program success.
• Responsible for thermal engineering team, hiring, mentorship and career development for the team.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or related technical field
• 6+ years of experience in an engineering role directly working on thermal systems design and engineering, with an understanding of aerospace hardware design and manufacturing.
• Experience performing vehicle level spacecraft thermal analysis in Thermal Desktop software, and detailed thermal analysis in programs such as ANSYS static and transient thermal (or equivalent).
• Intermediate-level skills in Matlab (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation.
• Proven track record managing a team of engineers around complex technical programs, preferably within aerospace or related industries.
• Strong first principles thinking with an ability to provide definition to open-ended problems and perform initial sizing with hand calcs in programs such as Excel.
• Familiarity with thermal margins and test requirements in SMC-S-016.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong management and leadership experience with the ability to inspire a diverse team to rally around a common cause.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration amongst team members, cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to make critical decisions and act as a tie-breaking authority in complex technical scenarios.
• Direct hands-on experience and proficiency with spaceflight and reentry vehicle thermal systems, and the associated technical challenges therein. This includes specific expertise in the design, analysis, and manufacturing of reentry thermal protection systems.
• Basic proficiency with 3D CAD software (preferably Siemens NX) and ability to interpret technical engineering drawings per ASME Y14.5M (GD&T).
• Prior work in a fast-paced, startup environment. 

Pay Range

• $151,000 - 190,000 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 long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards
• Offer compensation also includes the ability to purchase company stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• 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