Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

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

Varda Space Industries is looking for an Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist to support our facilities and labs on Earth. Varda is a fast paced and challenging environment. The EHS team should be comfortable working on complex chemical and physical systems ranging from chemical propulsion, to pharmaceuticals, to spacecraft development.

This position requires strong overall technical skills, excellent customer service, and great organizational management. The candidate should be a self-starter, self-motivator, and possess ingenuity to work in this novel environment.

Candidates should have knowledge of regulatory and environmental policies at the local, state and federal level, and experience in building and implementing EHS policies in a startup environment. The selected candidate should have strong overall technical skills, excellent customer service skills, and superior organizational and prioritization management skills. The candidate should also be a self-starter, self-motivator and possess ingenuity to excel at this position.

Candidates should have experience in building high-quality systems in support of business operations, spacecraft development, and administering complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulatory standards (e.g., Cal/OSHA, Cal/EPA, RCRA, SCAQMD, DOT, CA Fire Code), including recordkeeping and reporting requirements
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (e.g., NIOSH, ANSI, NFPA), where applicable
• Conduct root cause corrective action (RCCA) investigations as needed, working closely with leadership to implement any corrective actions to mitigate EHS risks
• Oversee accumulation and disposal of hazardous waste, including routine inspections
• Ensure safe handling and processing of pharmaceuticals through laboratory and equipment design, and development and implementation of safety procedures/systems
• Ensure safe handling of chemicals and hazardous materials through Hazard Communication (HazCom) program elements (e.g., SDS management, container labeling) and control measures (e.g., PPE)
• Keep up to date with new regulations and industry standards, updating internal EHS policies and procedures to maintain compliance
• Develop, administer, and manage EHS training materials and requirements/assignments
• Coordinate emergency response procedures, develop/maintain site emergency action plan, and organize emergency drills and related training (e.g., first aid/CPR/AED)
• Support regular maintenance and inspection of safety systems and equipment (e.g., emergency eyewashes/showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarm and suppression systems)
• Develop and implement periodic inspection program to proactively identify EHS risks
• Support contractor safety program to ensure planned work procedures include adequate safety controls
• Implement and support other EHS programs, including (but not limited to) electrical safety, lockout/tagout (LOTO), fall protection, powered industrial trucks (PITs), machine guarding, cranes/hoists, confined spaces, ergonomics, hearing conservation, respiratory protection, air quality, and heat illness prevention

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant EHS experience in a laboratory or manufacturing environment
• Bachelor's degree in occupational safety & health, environmental engineering/safety, physical sciences, or related field
• Expertise in managing chemical hazards and HazCom (e.g., safety data sheets [SDS], primary/secondary labeling, hazardous properties and compatibility)
• Experience with managing hazardous waste accumulation and disposal
• Extensive knowledge of California environmental (e.g., Cal/EPA, DTSC, SCAQMD) and health/safety (e.g., Cal/OSHA) standards and regulations
• Ability to make decisions and recommendations about complex EHS situations and topics when the solution is not clear
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Atlassian suites
• Proficiency in technology and equipment used in environmental inspections and industrial hygiene sampling
• Physically capable of performing tasks with prolonged standing/walking (e.g., inspections) and lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds at a time
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), and/or equivalent professional certification
• Master’s degree in occupational safety & health, environmental engineering/safety, physical sciences, or related field
• Knowledge of laboratory design and handling procedures for potent pharmaceutical compounds
• Experience in developing EHS policies and systems from the ground-up in a startup environment
• Experience in developing and implementing safety procedures for high-hazard operations (e.g., propulsion testing, potent chemical handling/storage)
• Knowledge of and/or experience with industrial hygiene sampling (e.g., airborne chemicals, dusts, noise, radiation)

Additional Requirements

• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs. for duties such as delivering computers, unpacking and rack-mounting equipment, etc.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $90,000 - $110,000
• 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
• 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