Manager of Propulsion Systems

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. 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.

About This Role

As Manager of Propulsion Systems , you will own the success of a critical subsystem within Varda's interdisciplinary engineering organization. You will be responsible for propulsion system architecture, analysis, mechanical design, subsystem test, and operations, both on the ground and in orbit. You will lead a team of propulsion systems engineers through Varda's evolving vehicle designs and block upgrades, with your work directly shaping the development of future spacecraft and capabilities central to Varda's growth.

The ideal candidate excels in propulsion systems technical leadership and thrives working cross-functionally across engineering domains, mission assurance, production, and supply chain. This role is open at the Manager level, with leveling determined by candidate experience.

Responsibilities

Own the spacecraft propulsion systems discipline and its interfaces end-to-end across the engineering organization and full product lifecycle

Set the technical direction for Varda propulsion systems; expand team and subsystem capabilities through ongoing engineering development, driving projects from concept through implementation and flight

Own vehicle Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P IDs), which directly define spacecraft capabilities in orbit

Drive and define interfaces with partner disciplines; set team priorities, remove blockers, and ensure thorough coverage across all deliverables as the program scales

Lead, grow, and hire the propulsion systems team responsible for subsystem development and operations, serving as the primary propulsion interface with GNC, software, structures, thermal, avionics, production, mission operations, and other partner teams

Represent propulsion systems in cross-functional forums internally and externally; plan and execute major spacecraft testing campaigns and in-flight operations alongside your team

Define and uphold a high technical bar by informing and applying Varda's interdisciplinary engineering standards to the propulsion systems team

Basic Qualifications

B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a closely related field; equivalent professional experience considered

5–9 years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, including design, build, and test of fluid systems or propulsion subsystems

Demonstrated people leadership experience — formally or informally managing, mentoring, or technically leading a team of engineers

Deep technical understanding of spacecraft propulsion subsystems, including fluid system components, P IDs, pressurized hardware, and propellant handling

Proven ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries and drive multi-disciplinary technical solutions through a pragmatic systems engineering approach

Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight operations

Proficiency with CAD and PLM software

Preferred Skills and Experience

8+ years in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, with breadth across design, analysis, test, and operations

Prior formal management experience: hiring, performance management, and team development

Experience with satellite bus propulsion architectures, including monopropellant, bipropellant, and cold gas systems

Familiarity with fluid systems performance analysis tools and methods

Background in defining and enforcing engineering standards or design guidelines within a propulsion organization

Launch sit…