Hiring: Senior Terrestrial Automation and Controls Engineer Company: Varda Space Industries Location: El Segundo, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-17 01:23:42 Employment Type: Full-time / On-site Target Skills & Keywords : Grafana, InfluxDB, Integration Testing, Linux, Maven, PLC, Python About the job Experience: •Strong intuition for when to use real-time PLC code versus higher-level Python orchestration, and a strong understanding of the tradeoff. •Production experience with TwinCAT 3, structured text, and the broader IEC 61131-3 language suite. •Operational familiarity with time-series data acquisition and visualization tools such as Grafana, InfluxDB, or similar platforms. •Aerospace experience, particularly in spacecraft testing or GSE development. •Environmental test experience, including TVAC, thermal cycling, and vibration testing. Required Skills: •Design, build, and maintain test systems and ground support equipment (GSE) for flight hardware qualification and manufacturing operations. •Integrate with a wide range of external hardware, including thermal vacuum chambers, ovens, chillers, pressure systems, data acquisition hardware, and precision instrumentation. •Develop and extend Varda's internal PLC framework and EtherCAT tooling to support evolving program needs. •Contribute to architecture decisions on real-time control implementation, including evaluation of PLC-based (TwinCAT 3) versus Linux-based approaches for high-frequency control applications. •Build cabinets, wire panels, and own systems end-to-end from electrical design through commissioning. •Partner with propulsion, avionics, GNC, and manufacturing teams to deliver test infrastructure that meets their needs on aggressive timelines. •Champion sustainable engineering practices that enable new engineers to ramp quickly on the tech stack and maintain production systems reliably. Qualifications: •Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or related technical field. •5+ years of industry experience in test automation, controls, and/or industrial automation. •Hands-on experience integrating with industrial hardware over protocols such as EtherCAT, Modbus (TCP/RTU), RS-232/485 serial, or similar communication standards. •Comfort working across the full stack: designing electrical panels, wiring cabinets, debugging hardware, and writing control software. •Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment where priorities shift, and end-to-end ownership of problems is expected. •“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). •Advanced EtherCAT expertise - including DC sync, ENI configuration, master implementation, or driver-level work. Compensation: •$140,333 - $179,314 / year •Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!