Environmental Test Lab Manager

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 (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

 

 

About This Role 

As an Environmental Test Lab Manager, you will be responsible for the test assets, scheduling, and execution of Varda's environmental test lab. The Test Lab Manager will be a critical part of Varda's scaling efforts by sizing the space and infrastructure to meeting the throughput for both production and R&D environmental test needs. Varda builds many components in house and the test lab plays a critical role ensuring the products are screened for flight. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in vibration, thermal, and vacuum testing with a commitment to driving improvements to hit an increasing build cadence.

Responsibilities 

• Manage day-to-day operations of Environmental Test Lab
• Perform acceptance and qualification testing of flight and development hardware and document results
• Program and operation environmental test chambers (thermal, thermal vacuum) and vibration shakers
• Use electronic test equipment, test racks, and DAQs to run performance tests on components
• Maintain test schedule based on vehicle priorities
• Forecast long term test asset usage and recommend capital equipment expenditures
• Purchase and install thermal chambers, thermal vacuum chambers, and vibration tables
• Oversee equipment maintenance and calibration to ensure functionality
• Own lab layout, tools, and improvement projects

Basic Qualifications 

• B.S. engineering degree or 5+ years performing environmental testing 
• 5+ years of experience working hands-on in an environmental test lab with thermal chambers and vibration shakers
• 2+ years of managing test lab equipment
• Teamwork, communication, and problem solving in a collaborative environment 

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Ability to read and execute work to engineering drawings and schematics
• Assembling and testing propulsion systems
• Assembling and testing electronic components
• Testing integrated complex systems such as satellites, planes, or rockets
• Experience testing to SMC-S-016 or MIL-STD-810G standards
• Experience with forklifts, cranes, and lift rigging
• Working in cleanrooms with ESD sensitive components
• Experience with analog and digital instrumentation (load cells, pressure transducers, strain gauges, RTDs, TCs, encoders, accelerometers)
• Comfortable and familiar with operating fabrication equipment (mill, lathe, drill press)
• Experience managing direct reports including performance feedback, training, and development 
• Proficient with computers and MS Office

Additional Requirements 

• Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs. 
• Must be comfortable bending, stooping, and standing
• Hands-on position requires standing for up to 6 hours a day and working directly with hardware on the floor 

 

 

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 employees have access requires a license to be exported