Principal Fluid Systems Engineer - Pharmaceutical Payloads

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 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: $180,000 - $230,000/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 Benefits 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):   Health & Wellness