Senior IT Engineer

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 (coming soon).

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

At Varda Space Industries, we're pushing the boundaries of what's possible in space and materials science — and we’re looking for bold engineers to help us get there. As an senior IT Engineer, you'll be critical in building, scaling, and maintaining the infrastructure that powers our systems on Earth, in orbit and everything in between.

This is a full-time, onsite role where you’ll wear multiple hats from IT operations, M365 administration, enterprise application integration to support our mission operations. You’ll move fast, think creatively, and have a tremendous impact on mission-critical systems both on Earth and in space.

We are seeking an experienced Senior IT Engineer to join our team, specializing in IT infrastructure, networking, and Microsoft 365 (M365) administration and integration within a Government Community Cloud High (GCCH) environment and experience with Atlassian integration and administration. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in designing, implementing, and maintaining secure IT systems and networks, with expertise in managing M365 services in a highly regulated, secure cloud environment. This role requires a blend of technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and the ability to ensure compliance with government security standards.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Infrastructure and Networking:

• Design, configure, and maintain enterprise-level network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and VPNs.


• Monitor network performance, troubleshoot connectivity issues, and implement security measures to protect against cyber threats.


• Manage and optimize LAN/WAN environments, ensuring high availability and performance.


• Implement and maintain network security protocols, including intrusion detection systems and access controls, in compliance with GCCH requirements.


• Enterprise Application administration and integration, such as

M365 Administration and Integration:

• Administer and configure M365 services (e.g., Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Teams, OneDrive) in a GCCH environment.


• Oversee tenant configuration, user management, and security settings to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards


• Integrate M365 solutions with on-premises systems and other cloud platforms, ensuring seamless functionality and data security.


• Implement and manage identity and access management (IAM) solutions, including Azure Active Directory (AAD) in GCCH.


• Automate routine M365 administrative tasks using PowerShell scripting and other tools.

Enterprise Application Administration and Integration:

• Administer and configure the Atlassian stack (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket), including user management, permissions, and workflows.


• Integrate applications with M365 and SSO


• Customize and optimize Atlassian applications to meet organizational needs, including creating workflows, dashboards, and reports in Jira and Confluence.


• Ensure secure deployment and maintenance of Atlassian tools in compliance with GCCH security standards.


• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to Atlassian stack performance, integrations, and user access.

On-Call Rotation

• Rotate through the team’s on-call schedule to keep critical systems healthy and responsive.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in IT infrastructure or systems engineering, with increasing levels of responsibility


• Hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 administration in GCC-High or secure government cloud environments.


• Strong knowledge of Windows Server administration, Active Directory, Group Policy, and Azure AD.


• Proficiency in network technologies (TCP/IP, VLANs, VPNs, DNS, DHCP, routing/switching, firewalls).


• Experience with Intune (endpoint management, compliance policies, app deployment).


• Scripting skills (PowerShell, Python, or similar) for automation and reporting.


• Excellent troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.


• Understanding of ITIL best practices

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience administering Microsoft 365 services in secure cloud environments, with at least 3+ years specifically in GCC-High, Azure Government, or equivalent.


• Proven experience implementing and enforcing security and compliance controls aligned with CMMC, NIST 800-171, and FedRAMP requirements.


• Strong expertise in patch and configuration management across endpoints and servers in a regulated environment.


• Experience with automation and scripting (PowerShell, Python) to streamline M365 administration and compliance reporting.


• Experience with Atlassian suite of application administration and integration


• Microsoft, CompTIA, or Cisco certifications (e.g., Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert, MS-500, Security+, CCNP).

Additional Requirements

Must be physically able to regularly lift 25 lbs. for duties such as delivering computers, unpacking and rack-mounting equipment, etc.

ITAR Requirements

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  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.

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