Senior Technical Recruiter

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. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

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 is pioneering a commercial space-based manufacturing and reentry logistics platform. We need an exceptional Senior Technical Recruiter who thrives on sourcing and closing hard-to-find talent. You will own end-to-end recruiting across key engineering disciplines such as Avionics, GNC, Manufacturing, Mechanisms, Propulsion, Structures, Systems Integration & Test, Thermal, etc. This is an execution-first role: you’ll generate pipeline, represent Varda’s brand in the market, attract high caliber talent, and deliver on successful hiring strategies to continue to scale production. 

Responsibilities

You’re a full-cycle recruiter managing the entire hiring process from intake to signed offer. 

• Love for hiring. You know hiring is key to our success and that it changes people’s lives. You deliver hires consistently and push through when the pipeline seems to have run dry. 
• Sourcer at heart. You enjoy scouring the market for the best talent and take pride in building relationships with passive candidates. 
• Data-focused. You measure pipeline health to balance your priorities and align hiring manager expectations. 
• Ownership. You build hiring manager partnerships that operate like a team sport, moving with flexibility and accountability. You run strong intake sessions, advise on market and comp, and aren’t afraid to reframe the way of thinking. 
• Closer. You tell Varda’s story compellingly, guide candidates through decisions, and land offers. 
• Incredible candidate experience. You sweat the small stuff but keep the big picture in mind. You know a job search can be nerve-racking, and you give everyone who interacts with Varda a human experience. 
• Raise the bar. You mentor others, improve our processes, and champion inclusive interview practices that help us build diverse teams.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently deliver high-quality hires on aggressive timelines.
• Build strong partnerships with hiring managers who trust your judgment and rely on your strategic counsel.
• Create repeatable processes, solve inefficiencies, and generate a pipeline of talent that scales with the team. 
• Maintain a high bar while moving quickly in a competitive talent market.

Basic Qualifications 

• 5+ years of full-cycle recruiting with a track record of hands-on sourcing and hiring at pace, in competitive markets 
• A demonstrated self-starter who takes full accountability for outcomes, comfortable operating with ambiguity and pushing searches forward 
• Proven ability to source and close senior-level and leadership talent in competitive markets 
• Clear, proactive communicator with both candidates and hiring managers; keeps stakeholders informed 
• Strong understanding of business functions to evaluate candidate depth and contextualize role requirements 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• In-house recruiting experience at a hardware or deep tech startup (Series A through growth stage) 
• Experience recruiting across multiple engineering functions (e.g., Avionics, GNC, Manufacturing, Mechanisms, Propulsion, Structures, Systems Integration & Test, Thermal) 
• Experience with Greenhouse ATS 
• Exposure to ITAR/export-controlled hiring environments 
• Active network in the LA aerospace corridor 
• Familiarity with diversity sourcing strategies and tools 

Compensation & Location 

• Base Salary: $125,000 - $169,000/per year
• This range reflects the potential levels at which we may hire for this role. Final compensation will depend on experience, skills, education, as well as internal equity
• Eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards 
• Location: El Segundo, CA (onsite) 

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. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our 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).

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

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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.