Propulsion 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 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 Propulsion Manager at Varda, you will lead the development of chemical propulsion engines that power Varda’s spacecraft across current and future vehicle generations. This role blends deep technical ownership with people and program leadership. 

You will be accountable for propulsion engine architectures from clean-sheet design through build, test, qualification, and flight readiness. As a manager, you will lead and grow a team of propulsion engineers while serving as the Responsible Engineer (RE) for critical propulsion systems- owning schedule, technical integrity, and execution with zero surprises. 

You will partner closely with vehicle, structures, avionics, fluids, manufacturing, integration, test, safety, and mission operations to deliver propulsion hardware that meets system requirements and flight timelines. 

Responsibilities 

Technical & Program Leadership 

• Lead the end-to-end development of chemical propulsion engines, from architecture definition through flight deployment 

• Own clean-sheet engine sizing, configuration trades, and system optimization for current and future vehicles 

• Serve as Responsible Engineer (RE) for propulsion engines and hazardous test operations 

• Define and maintain project plans, including development milestones, staffing plans, critical path identification, and on-time execution 

• Lead engine interface definition with vehicle, fluids, avionics, and structures teams 

• Develop and execute engine verification and qualification plans 

• Drive technical decision-making using first principles and data-informed trade studies 

• Lead anomaly resolution and break-fix cycles through disciplined root-cause analysis 

 

People & Team Leadership 

• Manage, mentor, and develop propulsion engineers across multiple experience levels 

• Set clear expectations, priorities, and accountability for the team 

• Foster a culture of ownership, rigor, and continuous improvement aligned with Varda principles 

• Partner with recruiting and leadership to grow propulsion capability as programs scale 

• Identify skill gaps and development needs within the team and proactively address them through mentoring, targeted stretch assignments, and technical training. 

 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in rocket engine or chemical propulsion development 

• Experience mentoring and supporting the development of other engineers in a formal or informal leadership capacity. 

• Demonstrated experience leading complex technical projects or subsystems 

• Strong understanding of combustion device design and analysis 

• Familiarity with propulsion materials, manufacturing processes, and test infrastructure 

• Experience with spacecraft propellants 

• Proven ability to take ownership, manage ambiguity, and drive programs to completion 

• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, highly technical environment 

 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• 8+ years of experience in rocket engine or in-space propulsion development 

• 2+ years of experience as an engine lead, combustion devices lead, or technical manager 

• In-space propulsion experience 

• Extensive engine development test experience, including multiple break-fix cycles 

• Experience leading hazardous test operations as on-console RE 

• Prior experience managing engineers in a hardware development environment 

 

Pay Range

• Salary Range: $154,000.00 - $197,000.00/per year
• This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
• 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