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# Principal Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads Organization

- **Company:** Varda Space Industries
- **Location:** El Segundo, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Experienced
- **Salary:** $170,000.0 - $220,000.0
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Hardware Design, Systems Analysis, Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, M Programming Language, Requirements Management, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, Scripting, Integration Tests, Front End Software Development
- **Published:** September 3, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/principal-mechanisms-engineer-payloads-el-segundo-ca--ad1d33a1-166e-438c-8727-ec3cc5fa9f08

## About the Role

* BS/BEng in Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, or related field
 * 7+ years of experience designing, integrating, testing, and troubleshooting electromechanical hardware
 * Deep mechanical expertise with breadth in at least two adjacent disciplines (avionics, software, thermal, optics, test, etc.)
 * Track record leading teams through full cycle electromechanical space flight hardware development
 * Experience communicating with diverse technical and executive audiences, both internal and external

Preferred Skills and Experience

 * 3+ years of cross-functional project leadership experience
 * Significant experience planning and executing aerospace environmental testing (vibration, TVAC, EMI/EMC)
 * Experience leading government-facing technical programs
 * Active Secret or Top Secret clearance, Aerospace and Defense, Avionics, Best Practices, Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Capsules, Cross-Functional, Diversity, Documentation Plan, Drug Manufacturing, E Programming Language, Ecosystems, Electromagnetic Compatibility, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI), Electromechanical Design, Electromechanical Systems, Electromechanics, Fiber Optics, Finite Element Analysis, Government, Hand Tools, Hardware Development, Health Insurance, Homeland Security, Industry/Trade Analysis, Integration Testing, Leadership, Lesson Plans, MATLAB, Mechanical Engineering, Mentoring, Optics, Python Programming/Scripting Language, Requirements Management, Risk Management, Startup, Strategic Planning, System Architecture, System Integration (SI), System Operations, Systems Analysis, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Strategy, Testing, Trade Studies, United States Citizen, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Verification Plans, Vision Plan, Wheel/Front-End Loader

## Description

As a Principal Mechanisms Engineer on Varda's Payload team, you will define and lead the development of complex electromechanical flight hardware that operates in orbit, endures hypersonic reentry, and returns to Earth for inspection and iteration. You will shape payload architecture across pharmaceutical manufacturing and hypersonic reentry testbed missions-guiding systems from early concept through detailed design, integration, testing, launch, and recovery. You'll work closely with internal leadership and external partners, translating mission needs into engineering strategy and technical direction. This role is ideal for engineers with deep mechanical expertise and broad cross-disciplinary insight who want to influence system architecture, lead multi-mission efforts, and mentor engineers while delivering complex hardware on rapid flight timelines.

Responsibilities

 * Define architecture, requirements, and development plans for multi-payload or multi-mission systems
 * Lead complex mechanism and electromechanical subsystem design efforts
 * Drive system-level analyses, trade studies, and risk reduction using a variety of tools (hand calcs, python/matlab models, FEA, etc. as needed)
 * Lead cross-functional project teams across avionics, software, thermal, systems, integration
 * Represent Varda to senior internal leadership and external partners
 * Drive subsystem requirements, ICDs, verification plans, and documentation
 * Lead build, integration, testing, mission operations, recovery, and anomaly resolution
 * Guide lessons-learned processes and influence payload development cycles
 * Mentor senior and entry-level engineers and shape best practices


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