Thermofluids Engineer

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. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

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.

As the Thermofluids Engineer, you will be responsible for driving fluid system design for thermal management on the spacecraft through analysis, test, and validation. This role supports development and characterization of thermomechanical and fluid systems for payload, vehicle, and propulsion applications. You will be responsible for defining performance metrics, operational requirements, and hardware requirements for ground testing and flight.

Day-to-day responsibilities include sizing thermofluid and system and component performance via hand calculations, simulation, and testing. Familiarity with typical thermomechanical hardware (valves, pumps, accumulators, heat exchangers, etc.), 0D and 1D fluid networks, and fluid system modeling is essential. Successful candidates thrive on solving hard problems, adapting to dynamic requirements, and collaborating across multiple domains. You will gain significant ownership, see your contributions rapidly come to life. This role is open at the Eng II level, with levels determined based on candidate experience.

• Develop active thermal control systems for vehicle and payload thermal management
• Develop fluid network models to interface with top level vehicle thermal model
• Define hardware and operational requirements for fluid systems based on analysis and testing
• Inform manufacturing and integration of thermal/fluid hardware onto the vehicle
• Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines (payload, mechanical, software, propulsion) to design and develop thermal/fluid systems to meet vehicle requirements
• Characterize thermofluid performance of propulsion systems from analysis, ground testing, and flight data
• Develop data processing infrastructure for ground and flight thermofluids systems

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 1–3+ years)
• 1+ years experience in thermofluids and/or propulsion systems in a manufacturing environment
• Strong heat transfer and incompressible fluid mechanics first principles
• Background in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks
• Expertise in one or more fluid or thermal modeling tools (SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, GFSSP, etc.)
• Knowledge with thermomechanical systems: heat exchangers, cold plates, vacuum chambers, pumps, valves, RTDs, transducers, etc.
• Hands-on experience in thermal and TVAC testing
• Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication

• 3+ years’ experience in thermofluids and/or propulsion systems in a manufacturing environment
• Master’s degree in an engineering discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience
• Experience with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT
• Experience in propulsion systems and thruster characterization
• A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast-paced environment

• Salary Range:
  
  • Eng II: $119,543- $152,749
• 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 offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
• Complimentary EV charging
• Dog-friendly office space 🐕

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. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our 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).

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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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.