CNC Lathe Machinist I and II, Prototype Shop

Varda Space IndustriesEl Segundo, California, United States

midPosted 7 Nov 2026

About the role

<div class="content-intro"><h2><span data-contrast="none">About Varda</span></h2>

<p>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. <strong>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.</strong></p>

<p>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.  </p>

<p>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.  </p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.</p></div><h2>About This Role</h2>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">El Segundo, California, United States</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<p><span data-contrast="auto">Varda Space Industries is scaling the commercial space and microgravity frontier, building the world's first commercial orbital material production and reentry infrastructure. By designing and manufacturing. Orbital platforms end-to-end in-house, we can iterate faster, fly more often, tackle physical problems that terrestrial - based facilities cannot touch. Then reliably bring these complex manufacturing processes back to Earth. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Position </span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<p><span data-contrast="auto">Seeking an experienced</span><strong><span data-contrast="auto"> CNC Machinist</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> to anchor our prototyping capabilities. In this role, you will leverage extensive </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Mastercam</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> expertise and advanced </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">CNC Lathe</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> experience to program, set up, and execute complex, one-off aerospace components. Beyond machining mastery, you will serve as a vital cross-functional partner, collaborating digitally and interpersonally with all teams to drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) in an environment where speed and flexibility are paramount. </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<p><span data-contrast="auto">As a part of the </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">captive prototype machine shop</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> embedded directly within this high-cadence aerospace environment, you’re a critical moving part of this internal engine that addresses the complex, high-urgency work that most job shops simply cannot. </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Priorities can change quickly here</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto">, and we thrive on the momentum of real hardware coming back from flight. The requirement is not just machine parts. As a team we are looking forward to work together. Building an efficient prototype environment where we lean into each other's strengths and cross-train as opportunities arise.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Key Responsibilities</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Advanced Machining & Lathe Programming</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">use </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Mastercam</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> to program, set up, and operate </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">CNC</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> equipment, with a heavy emphasis on</span><strong><span data-contrast="auto"> CNC Lathe </span></strong><span data-contrast="auto">and complex geometries.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Fabricate challenging prototype and flight-support components from diverse aerospace materials under tight, rapidly evolving deadlines.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Own the manufacturing process from CAM programming through fixturing, tool selection, optimization, on-machine probing, and final inspection/verification.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Captive Shop Agility & Rapid-Response Prototyping</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<ul>

<li><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Mindset:</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> A hands-on builder's mentality who embraces </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">continuous improvement</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto"> and loves seeing physical hardware come to life, test, and fly.</span></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Handle high-priority, complex work that commercial vendors cannot turn around or execute, acting as the critical link between design concept and physical hardware.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Adapt seamlessly when </span><strong><span data-contrast="auto">priorities change</span></strong><span data-contrast="auto">, managing shifting project scopes without sacrificing part integrity or precision.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="2" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"multilevel"}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><span data-contrast="auto">Maintain rigorous quality standards through in-process inspection and close collaboration with quality assurance.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></li>

</ul>

<p><strong><span data-contrast="auto">Design for Manufacturability (DFM) & Cross-Functional Collaboration</span></strong><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span></p>

<ul>

<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid=&qu

From Varda Space Industries's careers page on Greenhouse. See the original posting. OneProfile isn't the employer and doesn't take applications; you apply on their site.

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