CNC Machine Shop Manager

Varda Space•El Segundo, CA 90245, US• Full Time

Posted 1 hour ago• Manufacturing

Compensation

$110,000–$140,000/year

Job Description

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

Varda's machine shop is where the spaceflight hardware that flies on our reentry capsules — and the ground support equipment that builds, integrates, and tests them — gets cut. Capsule structural hardware, payload processing modules, propulsion and fluid system components, integration fixtures, and bespoke tooling all come off the floor here. This is a prototype shop: short-run, low-quantity, high-mix. Most jobs are one of a kind, every setup matters, and the next vehicle's build cadence depends on what leaves the shop this week.

As CNC Machine Shop Manager, you own the shop end-to-end. Today the team is 4 programmers and machinists, scaling to a larger team as Varda's vehicle cadence ramps. You'll work on a fleet of 3-axis and 5-axis mills, lathes, and secondary equipment. You set the schedule, hire and develop the team, and work directly with design and manufacturing engineers to keep first-piece quality high and turnaround tight.

Responsibilities

Own day-to-day machine shop operations across capsule, payload, propulsion, and GSE programs, including scheduling, work prioritization, and resource allocation
Lead and grow a team of programmers, machinists, and operators. Hire, mentor, develop, and hold the floor accountable for safety, quality, and delivery
Drive performance across safety, quality, on-time delivery, throughput, scrap, and cost
Direct setups, first-piece verification, in-process checks, tool offsets, and changeovers;
Troubleshoot machining issues related to programming, tooling, workholding, dimensional variation, surface finish, and machine downtime
Evaluate and recommend capex for new machines, tooling, fixtures, and measurement equipment as the shop scales
Champion configuration control discipline so every part is built to the controlled documentation

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical, manufacturing, or aerospace engineering, or equivalent practical experience
10+ years of CNC machining experience, with 5+ years leading a CNC machine shop or production team
Hands-on background as a programmer or machinist who moved into management — still credible on the floor and at the CAM seat
Direct experience with Mastercam (or equivalent) as the primary CAM environment
Experience running shops anchored on Haas mills and lathes; comfort with Haas controls
Direct experience with 5-axis machining strategy, workholding design, and complex setup troubleshooting
Strong knowledge of GD&T, blueprint interpretation, and precision measuring tools (micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gauges, CMM)
Experience in prototype, high-mix, or short-run machining environments

Preferred Skills and Experience

Prior work in a technical role for a launch vehicle, satellite, or reentry-vehicle development effort
Experience in low-volume, high-mix or prototype-to-flight aerospace manufacturing environments
Experience with NX CAD
Capex management experience — building business cases for new machine tools, tooling, and shop infrastructure
Experience hiring and developing a senior shop team in a startup or scale-up environment

Pay Range

Salary range: $110,000 - $140,000/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 incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards

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