Systems & Network Administrator

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 the Role Varda is looking for a Systems & Network Administrator who thrives at the intersection of cutting-edge aerospace and enterprise-grade infrastructure. You’ll be the architect and guardian of our on-premise and multicloud network — the backbone that powers everything from engineering innovation to manufacturing operations. You’ll have real ownership over critical systems built on Cisco Meraki, Microsoft Azure, and AWS, managing endpoint fleets across macOS, Windows, and Linux via Jamf and Intune, and enforcing zero-trust access through Zscaler. You’ll shape how we scale infrastructure across both cloud and physical environments, working alongside Engineering, Integration and Test, Manufacturing, and Business Operations teams doing things that have never been done before. If you want your work to matter and your decisions to leave a mark, this is that role. This is a full-time, exempt position located in our El Segundo headquarters. Responsibilities Design, deploy, and maintain a Cisco Meraki environment spanning MX security appliances, MS switches, MR wireless access points, and MV cameras — and keep it performing flawlessly as we grow. Own network health end-to-end: proactively monitor throughput and availability via the Meraki Dashboard, and hunt down bottlenecks and security events before they become problems. Architect and manage VLANs, DHCP, DNS, firewall rules, site-to-site VPNs, and traffic-shaping policies across both production and office environments. Build and maintain resilient cloud networking across Microsoft Azure (VNets, NSGs, ExpressRoute/VPN Gateways, Azure Firewall, Private Endpoints) and AWS (VPCs, Transit Gateway, Security Groups). Lead network expansions, office buildouts, and infrastructure refreshes — from whiteboard to production. Administer and harden Windows and Linux servers, owning patching, performance monitoring, and backup/recovery. Manage a diverse endpoint fleet across macOS, Windows, and Linux via Jamf Pro, Microsoft Intune, and supplemental Linux tooling — including configuration profiles, OS patching, compliance policies, and app deployment. Administer endpoint security tooling, including ThreatLocker and CrowdStrike, collaborating closely with IT Support on imaging, provisioning, and compliance enforcement. Manage physical security and AV systems, including Kisi access control and Envoy visitor management. Operate and optimize Zscaler ZPA and ZIA for zero-trust network access — tuning policies, monitoring connector health, and resolving client issues. Own IT asset tracking, network documentation, cloud topology diagrams, and MDM runbooks in Confluence — leaving things better than you found them. Write clean, maintainable automation in Bash, PowerShell, and Python to streamline operations, reduce toil, and improve visibility. Champion compliance efforts tied to Vanta, ITAR, NIST 800-171, and GCC-High — particularly around network segmentation, endpoint posture, and cloud security. Lead special projects from kickoff to completion, with full accountability for outcomes. Basic Qualifications Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in IT, Network Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field — or equivalent experience that speaks for itself. 3+ years in network or systems administration with a meaningful networking focus. Demonstrated Cisco Meraki proficiency: security appliance policies, switch port configuration, SSID management, and client troubleshooting. Strong networking fundamentals: TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, 802.1X, spanning tree, routing, and Wi-Fi (802.11ax). Solid Azure networking knowledge (VNets, subnets, NSGs, VPN Gateways) and working familiarity with AWS (VPCs, Security Groups). MDM experience across macOS, Windows, and Linux — enrollment, configuration profiles, compliance, and patch management. Confident Windows and Linux server administration: patching, hardening, and service management. Self-directed and composed under pressure, with a track record of managing competing priorities without dropping the ball. Clear communicator who can translate technical complexity for any audience. Preferred Qualifications Cisco Meraki certifications (ECMS1, ECMS2) or deep hands-on experience across the full MX, MS, MR, and MV product line. Microsoft certifications such as AZ-700 (Azure Network Engineer) or AZ-104 (Azure Administrator). Enterprise-scale Jamf Pro and Microsoft Intune experience, plus fa