Principal Fluid Systems Engineer - Payloads

About this Role

As a Principal Fluid Systems Engineer on Varda's Payload team, you will define and lead the development of first-of-its-kind electromechanical fluid handling hardware that manufactures pharmaceuticals in microgravity, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for material extraction. Your payloads will precisely meter, mix, filter, transport, and thermally control pharmaceutical materials in compact spacecraft-compatible hardware. You’ll shape the architecture and technical direction for pharmaceutical payloads—guiding project teams from requirements synthesis through development, on-orbit operation, recovery, and iteration for future missions.

You’ll collaborate closely with pharmaceutical scientists, process engineers, internal leadership, and spacecraft subsystem teams to translate mission objectives into qualified hardware that flies in months, not years. This role is ideal for engineers who combine deep mechanical and fluid systems expertise with the cross-functional breadth to define foundational in-space pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure.

Responsibilities

Define requirements, architecture, and development plans for pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads

Establish fluid system design standards for component selection and qualification, sealing, contamination control, thermal control, and verification/validation

Lead project teams to develop of precision fluid systems incorporating valves, pumps, pistons, manifolds, tubing, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, and thermal control systems

Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction using a variety of tools (hand calcs, Python/MATLAB models, FEA, etc. as needed)

Lead build and test campaigns for prototypes and flight hardware to characterize performance and reliability

Synthesize cross-functional inputs from business development, pharmaceutical science, process engineering, and spacecraft subsystem teams to develop requirements for new pharmaceutical payloads

Develop standards for subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, test reports, and recovery procedures

Represent Varda in technical discussions with internal leadership, external partners, customers, and government stakeholders

Lead continuous improvement and incorporation of lessons learned

Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices

Basic Qualifications

BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Biomedical, Chemical, or related engineering discipline

7+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware

Deep mechanical and fluid systems expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines such as avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, precision instrumentation, etc.

Track record leading project teams through full-cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development

Extensive experience with valves, pumps, pistons, tubing, manifolds, fittings, seals, filters, sensors, metering hardware, thermal-control hardware, and/or compact fluidic assemblies

Excellent communication skills with customer, executive, and cross-disciplinary technical audiences

Preferred Skills and Experience

3+ years of cross-functional project leadership experience

Prior full-cycle technical leadership of precision fluid-handling hardware for relevant applications

In Space: ECLSS, low-thrust propulsion, astronaut suits, spacecraft thermal control, etc.

On Earth: semiconductor process equipment, biotech process equipment, analytical instruments, medical devices, etc.

Extensive experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)

Familiarity with microgravity fluid behavior, capillary-driven flows, gas/liquid separation, two-phase flow, cGMP principles, cleanroom practices, or regulated hardware environments

Pay Range

Salary range: $181,913 - $232,444/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