Mission Assurance Engineer

About This Role

The Mission Assurance Engineer will partner with Varda’s design and manufacturing teams through the entire product development lifecycle to create quality plans for flight hardware while supporting the FAA and range safety licensing processes.  This includes identification of key design characteristics, development testing for manufacturability or reliability, and detailed acceptance or qualification test planning.  You will use your skills to optimize our products for the future of in-space manufacturing.  

Responsibilities

• Drive improvements to vehicle design and help overcome design challenges while being closely integrated with hardware teams 
• Develop design criteria, requirements, and verification approaches for new and existing systems 
• Provide critical peer review of hardware during design reviews and acceptance and qualification test campaigns 
• Develop, implement, and validate test and inspection processes for new and existing products and processes
• Develop and improve program by use of subsystem criticality, failure modes and effects analysis, requirements compliance matrix tools to identify failure modes and the mitigations to ensure adequate coverage, change management, and optimize effects on production
• Responsible for vehicle level deliverables for regulatory bodies including, but no limited to, requirements compliance, functional or flight hazard analyses, and verification evidence for the FAA, FCC, or Air Force Range
• Responsible for vehicle level risk management and execution of program risk posture, execution, and identifying mitigation strategies
• Investigate failures in production, test, and flight identifying and mitigating the immediate and underlying root causes in order to reduce risk and improve reliability of designs and processes 
• Be the subject matter expert to drive equipment-related process improvement including detailed troubleshooting and root cause analysis  
• Conduct regular build quality reviews to ensure that design intent is achieved and well-communicated; identify opportunities for risk reduction and removal of complexity in designs and processes to improve manufacturability, collaborating with integrated product teams to drive improvements and address high-impact and repeating non-conformances 
• Contain suspect or known non-conforming products, providing guidance to quality inspectors, technicians, shop supervisors, and engineers to assist in quarantining and rework activities 

Basic Qualifications

• 2-5 years experience in a manufacturing, quality, design, or similar engineering role
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical, manufacturing, mechanical, or material sciences engineering
• Experience with integration of interdisciplinary systems in the Aerospace industry
• Strong computer skills with demonstrated ability in a programming language
• Structured problems solving methodologies (DMAIC, 8D, etc.)

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, materials engineering, or electrical engineering
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, and enthusiasm for Varda’s spirit of innovation and drive for improving reliability in cutting-edge technology
• Full project lifecycle ownership experience (cradle to grave)
• Demonstrated application of process controls in high volume manufacturing, test, and quality environment
• Knowledge of quality tools such as measurement systems analysis, design of experiments, statistical process control, root cause analysis and corrective action, advanced product quality planning (APQP), metrology, process failure mode and effects analysis (PFMEA), control plans, and various problem-solving approaches
• Dedicated to adopting a lean approach to quality without compromising safety or reliability
• Experience developing or supporting any of the following:
  • Certification or licensing process for spacecraft or launch vehicles for flight (FAA, Range Safety, etc.)
  • Complex mechanical/structural assemblies
  • Advanced composites systems
  • Fluid component/valve assembly
  • Pre-impregnated lamination/curing composites
  • CNC machining, forming, bending
  • Bonding, drilling, fastening and other assembly manufacturing processes
  • Avionics integration and testing
  • Fluid system pressure testing
  • Welding (Electron Beam (EB), TIG)