Senior Embedded Software Engineer

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

At Varda, embedded engineers own the software that controls our spacecraft through every phase of flight. That means your work supports power-up, on‑orbit operations, atmospheric reentry, and landing. You’ll work across bare‑metal microcontrollers, embedded Linux, networked avionics, and real flight hardware. This is a hands-on role where you bring up new boards, write safety‑critical code, integrate with sensors and payloads, and ship software that goes to space on a high-cadence mission schedule.

What You’ll Do

You’ll join a small, high-performing team responsible for the embedded microcontrollers across the satellite bus, capsule, and payload subsystems. Your work directly shapes how our vehicles behave in flight and how we scale from single missions to a fleet of production spacecraft.

• Contribute to a new generation of spacecraft avionics, from early concept through hardware bringup and flight certification.

• Develop reliable, modern C++ firmware for safety‑critical systems in a bare-metal environment.

• Validate software on real hardware using hardware‑in‑the‑loop and full‑vehicle integration test environments.

• Support mission operations campaigns where your software is exercised end‑to‑end in flight.

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience developing real-time embedded software.

• Strong proficiency in C++ for embedded systems.

• Experience developing firmware for ARM microcontrollers.

• Hands-on experience bringing up hardware and writing low-level peripheral drivers.

• Familiarity with protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART/RS‑422, CAN, or Ethernet.

• Ability to read schematics, understand datasheets, and work closely with hardware engineers.

• Strong debugging skills (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, JTAG, on-target testing).

• Ability to independently own and deliver complex technical systems.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Deep familiarity with microcontroller fundamentals, such as interrupts, DMA, memory layouts, peripherals, and startup sequences.

• Strong familiarity in embedded/real-time Linux.

• Knowledge of deterministic networking and time synchronization.

• Background in safety‑critical or high‑reliability embedded systems.

• Experience integrating sensors, mixed-signal ICs, power electronics, and actuators.

• Familiarity with hardware‑in‑the‑loop test setups or multi-stage integration environments.

• Ability to lead subsystem development or mentor other engineers.

• Interest in spacecraft, robotics, or complex systems operating in harsh environments.

Pay Range

• Salary range: $160,000 - $200,000/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 long-term incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

• Offer compensation also includes the ability to receive stock options under the Company's Equity Incentive Plan

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 to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)

Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits

• Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side

• Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)

• 401(k) matching (interns excluded)

• Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)

• Health insurance, including Vision and Dental

• Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.

• Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)

Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance.  We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice                                                               Right To Work Notice

Read more                                                                             Read more