Production Planner

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 (coming soon).

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

About This Role

As a Production Planner at Varda, you’ll play a key role in building and scaling production planning from the ground up. You’ll be responsible for developing and maintaining detailed schedules and manufacturing plans for aerospace components and assemblies—ensuring every build aligns with program milestones and quality standards. Working closely with engineering, procurement, and manufacturing teams, you’ll generate and manage work orders, drive alignment between planning and execution on the floor, and help lay the foundation for reliable, repeatable production as we grow.

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams to ensure cohesive scheduling and production execution
• Develop and maintain production schedules and manufacturing plans using ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)    
• Create and manage work orders in coordination with engineering, procurement, and production teams
• Monitor progress, resolve bottlenecks, and adjust schedules to meet delivery and launch milestones
• Align planning with floor execution, material availability, and resource capacity
• Create comprehensive written manufacturing plans and instructions based on engineering drawings, specifications, and process requirements   
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes with documentation to support scalable production

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 5+ years of experience in planning, scheduling, or production control in aerospace, defense, or complex manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems and scheduling tools.
• Proven ability to create and manage detailed manufacturing work orders and written production plans.
• Knowledge of production processes, lead times, and supply chain coordination.
• Strong communication skills and ability to interface effectively across functional departments.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs.  

• • Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing 
  • Hands-on position may require standing and working directly with hardware on the floor 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with aerospace industry standards (AS9100, FAA, DoD).
• Familiarity with manufacturing integration in a high-mix, low-volume environment.
• Certification in project planning or scheduling (e.g., PMI-SP, PMP, APICS CPIM).
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $100,000 - $125,000/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, 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