Thermofluids Engineer II

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 the Thermofluids Engineer II , you will be responsible for driving fluid system design for thermal management on the spacecraft through analysis, test, and validation. This role supports development and characterization of thermomechanical and fluid systems for payload, vehicle, and propulsion applications. You will be responsible for defining performance metrics, operational requirements, and hardware requirements for ground testing and flight.  Day-to-day responsibilities include sizing thermofluid and system and component performance via hand calculations, simulation, and testing. Familiarity with typical thermomechanical hardware (valves, pumps, accumulators, heat exchangers, etc.), 0D and 1D fluid networks, and fluid system modeling is essential. Successful candidates thrive on solving hard problems, adapting to dynamic requirements, and collaborating across multiple domains. You will gain significant ownership, see your contributions rapidly come to life.  Responsibilities   Develop active thermal control systems for vehicle and payload thermal management Develop fluid network models to interface with top level vehicle thermal model Define hardware and operational requirements for fluid systems based on analysis and testing Inform manufacturing and integration of thermal/fluid hardware onto the vehicle Work collaboratively with other spacecraft disciplines (payload, mechanical, software, propulsion) to design and develop thermal/fluid systems to meet vehicle requirements Characterize thermofluid performance of propulsion systems from analysis, ground testing, and flight data Develop data processing infrastructure for ground and flight thermofluids systems Basic Qualifications   B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience (typically 1–3+ years) 1+ years experience in thermofluids and/or propulsion systems in a manufacturing environment Strong heat transfer and incompressible fluid mechanics first principles Background in 0D and 1D thermal and/or fluid networks Expertise in one or more fluid or thermal modeling tools (SINDA/FLUINT, ANSYS, GFSSP, etc.) Knowledge with thermomechanical systems: heat exchangers, cold plates, vacuum chambers, pumps, valves, RTDs, transducers, etc. Hands-on experience in thermal and TVAC testing Experience in MATLAB (or equivalent) for data processing and task automation Excellent written and verbal communication skills with an aptitude for interdisciplinary technical communication Preferred Skills and Experience   3+ years’ experience in thermofluids and/or propulsion systems in a manufacturing environment Master’s degree in an engineering discipline, with consideration given to equivalent professional experience Experience with Thermal Desktop, SINDA/FLUINT Experience in propulsion systems and thruster characterization A track record of taking ownership of projects and delivering results in a fast-paced environment Pay Range Salary Range: Eng II: $119,543- $152,749/ 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   Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays   100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance   $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses   12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)   Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic   Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents   Financial & Retirement   Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up   401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested) $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement   Relocation support for new hires, if needed   Workplace Expe