Manager of Combustion Devices

About This Role

As the Manager of Combustion Devices, you will own the success of a critical subsystem within Varda's interdisciplinary engineering team. In this role you will be responsible for combustion device architecture, mechanical design, analysis products, component testing, and operations both on the ground and in orbit. You will directly lead a team of propulsion engineers to own the responsibilities of the subsystem as Varda evolves designs and adds reliability into its systems through block upgrades. Your work will directly influence the development of future thrusters for in-space mobility and other capabilities key to Varda’s growth. The Manager of Combustion Devices excels in technical leadership of propulsion development programs and at working cross-functionally across engineering domains, mission assurance, production, and supply chain to establish the first routine industrial operations off our home planet.

Responsibilities

• Own all combustion devices within the Varda propulsion team and their interfaces end-to-end across the engineering organization and product lifecycles.

• Set the technical direction for Varda combustion devices. Expand team & subsystem capabilities through ongoing engineering developments, driving projects from concept through implementation and flight. Own thruster & related component sizing, performance, testing, qualification, and operations.

• Drive, define, and map interfaces with partner disciplines. Set team priorities, remove blockers, and ensure thorough coverage across all team deliverables as the program scales.

• Lead, grow, and hire the propulsion engineering team responsible for thruster development and operations, as well as key interfaces with GNC, structures, thermal, avionics, production, mission operations, and other partners.

• Represent the combustion devices discipline in cross-functional forums both internally and externally, while planning and executing thruster test campaigns and in-flight operations alongside your team.

• Define and uphold a high technical bar by informing and applying Varda's interdisciplinary engineering standards to the combustion devices team.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Aerospace, Mechanical, or a related engineering field

• 6+ years of hands-on experience in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion — including design, build, and test of chemical propulsion systems, thrusters, gas generators, or other combustion devices

• Demonstrated ability to lead people: prior experience formally or informally managing, mentoring, or technically leading a team of engineers

• Deep technical understanding of chemical propulsion systems, including thermal & performance considerations, component selection, manufacturing techniques, qualification testing, and flight operations

• History of collaborating effectively across organizational boundaries and driving to multi-disciplinary technical solutions through a pragmatic systems engineering approach

• Experience authoring and executing operational procedures for ground test or flight operations

• Proficiency with CAD and product lifecycle management (PLM) software

Preferred Skills & Experience

• 8+ years in spacecraft or launch vehicle propulsion, with breadth across design, analysis, test, and operations

• Prior formal management experience: hiring, performance management, and team development

• Experience with monopropellant or bipropellant chemical propulsion systems for spacecraft

• Familiarity with engine performance evaluation, injector design, thermo-structural analysis for combustion devices, film cooling, stability analysis, or other subjects relevant to combustion device development

• Familiarity with fluid systems performance analysis tools and methods

• Background in defining and enforcing engineering standards or design guidelines for a propulsion organization

• Launch site processing of spaceflight hardware, or flight operations experience

• Exceptional communication skills: ability to translate technical complexity into clear direction for your team and clear status for leadership

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):