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. 

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 Senior Program Manager – IT Programs, you will own the planning and execution of mission‑critical technology programs supporting Varda’s infrastructure, security posture, and operational growth. These programs span enterprise infrastructure, networking architecture, cybersecurity compliance, and facility technology environments.

You will operate across engineering, security, operations, and facilities teams to deliver reliable, secure, and scalable systems across the organization. This role requires strong cross‑functional leadership, technical fluency, and the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives in a fast‑moving startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Own planning and execution of critical IT programs spanning infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity compliance, and enterprise systems
• Develop and manage program roadmaps aligned with Varda’s operational and mission objectives
• Break strategic initiatives into executable projects and coordinate delivery across multiple technical teams
• Lead cross‑functional program execution across engineering, security, operations, and facilities organizations
• Drive delivery of complex initiatives, including network architecture deployments, secure infrastructure, and enterprise IT rollouts
• Lead cybersecurity and compliance programs, including CMMC and NIST 800‑171 readiness
• Coordinate technology deployments supporting facility buildouts, operational expansion, and mission infrastructure
• Identify program risks, dependencies, and resource constraints, and implement mitigation strategies
• Establish governance structures, reporting mechanisms, and documentation standards
• Provide program updates to senior leadership, proactively surfacing risks and critical decisions
• Manage vendor relationships and coordinate external partners supporting infrastructure and compliance initiatives

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information systems, engineering, computer science, or related technical discipline
• 7+ years of experience managing complex technology programs or large‑scale IT projects
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams across engineering, IT, and security organizations
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience delivering infrastructure or enterprise technology implementations
• S. citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. to conform with U.S Government space technology export regulations under ITAR

Preferred Skills

• Experience in aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries
• Experience supporting CMMC, NIST 800‑171, or other cybersecurity compliance frameworks
• Experience delivering enterprise infrastructure or network architecture programs
• Experience supporting technology implementations tied to facility expansion
• Experience operating in high‑growth startup environments

ITAR Requirements

• Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.  Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employee