# Senior Spacecraft Systems Engineer, Flight Safety at Varda

- Company: Varda
- What the company does: Expanding the economic bounds of humankind with the world's first orbital manufacturing & reentry platform. Backed by General Catalyst, Khosla and Founders Fund.
- Company website: https://varda.com/
- Type: Startups
- Level: Senior
- Location: El Segundo, California, United States
- Work setup: On-site
- Pay: $140K to $179K base salary per year (USD)
- Posted: 2026-09-21
- Apply by: 2026-11-05
- Apply: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/vardaspace/jobs/8001279003
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/varda-senior-spacecraft-systems-engineer-flight-safety/

## About the role

Varda is seeking a Senior Systems Engineer to serve as the primary architect for mission safety and reentry compliance. Joining our Mission Assurance team, you will lead the development of the Flight Safety Analysis and the regulatory strategy required for FAA Part 450 and Range Safety licensing. This is a highly cross-functional role that bridges the gap between complex engineering trades and regulatory approval.

## What they're looking for

- Own the technical regulatory strategy, Means of Compliance, and safety cases for FAA launch and reentry authorizations
- Own vehicle-level functional hazard analyses (FHA) and failure mode and effect analyses (FMEA)
- Maintain Expected Casualty and debris risk models to ensure all mission phases meet regulatory safety thresholds
- Establish technical safety limits and mission rules for real-time on-console operations
- Responsible for vehicle-level deliverables to regulatory organizations, in the service of mission reentry licenses and authorizations
- Act as the Flight Safety responsible engineer during mission rehearsals and live recovery operations

Tags: Spacecraft Engineering