PR Newswire · May 2026
Significant mission milestone: successful W-6 reentry, validating autonomous navigation and TPS performance.
Company research
Public company, workplace, funding, and market signals
Updated Aug 2, 2026
Overview
Varda Space Industries is a privately held aerospace and life-sciences company industrializing low Earth orbit. It builds autonomous spacecraft that process materials in microgravity and return them to Earth, while also selling orbital reentry and hypersonic-test services to government and commercial customers. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov. [Varda company page]
Primary product
The W-Series autonomous reentry vehicle/platform: an in-space manufacturing and microgravity-processing spacecraft that returns payloads to Earth and can also serve as an instrumented hypersonic flight-test vehicle. Varda also builds its satellite bus, pharmaceutical-processing payloads, and C-PICA heat shields in-house. [Varda careers; Varda W-2 update]
Founded
2021
Headquarters
El Segundo, California, United States — 225 S Aviation Blvd, El Segundo, CA 90245
Team size
Approximately 200–300 employees; public third-party estimates range from about 204 to 250–256 during 2026
Work style
Onsite
Industry
Defense and Space Manufacturing
Sub-industry
In-space manufacturing, microgravity-enabled life sciences, spacecraft manufacturing, reentry logistics and hypersonic testing
Offices
El Segundo, California (headquarters, offices, production facility and laboratory)
Washington, D.C.
Huntsville, Alabama
Business model
Contracted in-space pharmaceutical and materials processing
Government and defense hypersonic flight-test services
Microgravity research and payload hosting
Terrestrial pharmaceutical process development and analytical services
Potential IP generation and licensing for space-enabled formulations
Funding
Stage
Series C / late-stage private venture-backed company
Total raised
$329M
Latest round
Series C · Jul 2025
Latest amount
$187M
Jul 2025 · Natural Capital and Shrug Capital
Apr 2024 · Caffeinated Capital
Jul 2021 · Khosla Ventures and Caffeinated Capital
Dec 2020 · Founders Fund and Lux Capital
People & investors
Leadership
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Co-Founder, President and Chairman
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Financial Officer / VP Finance and Strategy
Chief Science Officer
Chief Revenue Officer
General Counsel
Chief Strategy Officer
VP, Autonomous Systems
Head of Research and Development
Founders
Co-founder and Chief Scientist
Work & culture
The company describes its culture as bold, technical, ambitious and down-to-earth, with an emphasis on solving difficult multidisciplinary aerospace, software, manufacturing and pharmaceutical problems. Its team includes veterans of SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Most hardware, integration and test roles appear facility-based; at least one current engineering posting explicitly requires full-time on-site work in El Segundo.
Work style
Onsite
Compensation
Public compensation signal: a Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer posting listed $169,000–$216,000 annual base salary plus potential stock options. The careers page states that salaries are competitive and equity is offered; role-specific compensation varies. [Greenhouse job posting]
Benefits
Competitive salaries
Company equity / stock options
Comprehensive benefits
Catered meals
Equal-opportunity employment
Product & market
Pricing
No public price list. Services appear to be custom, contract-based pricing for government test missions, payload hosting, microgravity processing, pharmaceutical process development and future IP/licensing arrangements.
Differentiators
- —Combines microgravity processing with autonomous Earth return rather than relying only on crewed orbital platforms.
- —Vertically integrates the spacecraft bus, reentry capsule, payload hardware and thermal-protection systems.
- —Dual-use platform serves both pharmaceutical/materials customers and defense hypersonic-test customers.
- —Designed for higher flight cadence and faster payload turnaround than traditional ISS-based research.
- —Has demonstrated repeated orbital missions and successful autonomous reentries.
- —Commercially oriented manufacturing and return loop for products intended to benefit Earth.
Technology
W-Series autonomous reentry capsules
Autonomous satellite buses
Microgravity pharmaceutical crystallization and formulation hardware
C-PICA ablative heat shields
Flight software using C++, Linux, bare-metal and RTOS systems
Avionics, guidance/navigation/control and thermal-protection systems
Python, PyTorch, MATLAB/Matplotlib and scientific-computing workflows
Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions and Terraform
AWS/Azure-style cloud and data tooling including Databricks, SQL/MySQL and Apache Iceberg
Customers
United Therapeutics
NASA
U.S. Air Force / Air Force Research Laboratory
Other U.S. government and defense partners
Commercial pharmaceutical and biotech companies (several prospective customers are not named publicly)
United Semiconductors
Competitors
Space Forge
Inbound Aerospace
Reditus Space
SpacePharma
Redwire
Axiom Space and other commercial-LEO platforms
Rocket Lab and other launch/reentry or spacecraft-infrastructure providers
Scale & contact
Estimated revenue
Approximately $90 million–$100 million annually; third-party estimate is about $95.5 million, but Varda does not publicly disclose audited revenue.
Estimated monthly visits
35K
Traffic estimate as of Jun 2026
Latest news
PR Newswire · May 2026
Major biopharma partnership to develop microgravity-enabled treatments for rare pulmonary disease.
MIT Technology Review · May 2026
Varda signed a commercial research collaboration with United Therapeutics to study drug crystallization in orbit, a major step toward a commercial pharmaceutical use case. Terms and specific drug candidates were not publicly disclosed.
Varda Space Industries · May 2026
The companies announced a multi-flight agreement to develop semiconductor materials in microgravity, broadening Varda's addressable market beyond pharmaceuticals.
Varda Space Industries · Feb 2026
Varda described W-2 payloads for pharmaceutical crystallization, NASA thermal-protection research and government hypersonic testing, and explained its dual-use customer model.
Jobs and careers at Varda
95 jobs at Varda
Spacecraft Embedded Linux Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Senior Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Flight Software Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Senior Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Mission Operations Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Firmware Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Embedded Software Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Senior Spacecraft Embedded Software Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Mission Assurance Engineer II, Hardware Reliability
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Hardware Build Reliability Engineer II
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Senior Spacecraft Build Reliability Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
Today
On-site
Full-time
Principal Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
On-site
Payload & Mechanisms
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Principal Fluid Systems Engineer - Payloads
On-site
Payload & Mechanisms
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Fluid Systems Engineer - Payloads
On-site
Payload & Mechanisms
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
On-site
Payload & Mechanisms
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Mechanisms Engineer - Payloads
On-site
Payload & Mechanisms
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Domestic Capture Director
On-site
Business Development
Huntsville, Alabama, United States; El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Ground Support Equipment, Design Engineer II
On-site
Terrestrial Hardware
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Terrestrial Automation and Controls Engineer
On-site
Terrestrial Hardware
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Terrestrial Automation and Controls Engineer II
On-site
Terrestrial Hardware
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Space Electrical Systems Engineer II
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Space Avionics Systems Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Space Avionics Systems Engineer II
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
International Capture Director
On-site
Business Development
Huntsville, Alabama, United States; El Segundo, California, United States
2d ago
On-site
Full-time
Payload Systems Integration and Test Engineer
On-site
Payload & Mechanisms
El Segundo, California, United States
3d ago
On-site
Full-time
Space Systems Engineer, Flight Safety
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
4d ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Space Systems Engineer, Flight Safety
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
4d ago
On-site
Full-time
Ground Systems Software Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Mission Software Engineer II
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Mission Software Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Inventory Specialist
On-site
Supply Chain
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Construction Project Engineer
On-site
Facilities
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
W Series Vehicle Scheduler
On-site
Vehicle Integration & Test
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Launch and Recovery Engineering Manager
On-site
Vehicle Integration & Test
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Propulsion Engineer II - Hardware and Bus Systems
On-site
Propulsion
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Recruiting Coordinator
On-site
HR & Recruiting
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Thermal Protection System (TPS) Manufacturing Engineer
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Technical Recruiter
On-site
HR & Recruiting
El Segundo, California, United States
1w ago
On-site
Full-time
People Operations Specialist
On-site
HR & Recruiting
El Segundo, California, United States
2w ago
On-site
Full-time
People Manager (Human Resources)
On-site
HR & Recruiting
El Segundo, California, United States
3w ago
On-site
Full-time
Executive Assistant
On-site
Operations
El Segundo, California, United States
3w ago
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Technician (Avionics Satellite Harness Manufacturing)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Manufacturing Engineer (Avionics / Electromechanical / Harnessing)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Production Scheduler
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Vehicle Integration & Test Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Supply Chain Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Structures Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Site Reliability Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Propulsion Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Mechanisms & Payload Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Manufacturing Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Guidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC) Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Biologics Formulation Research Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Flight Software Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Cybersecurity Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Avionics Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Applications Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
On-site
Internship
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Applications Engineer - Engineering
On-site
Site Reliability
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Data Engineer
On-site
Site Reliability
El Segundo, California, United States
1mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Propulsion Engineer - Hardware and Bus Systems
On-site
Propulsion
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Thermal Analysis Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Contracts Specialist
On-site
Mission Management
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Prototype Machinist
On-site
Mechanical Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Mission Design Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Program Manager, Pharma
On-site
Product
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Manager, Crystallization Science
On-site
Product
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Engineer II
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Manufacturing Engineer II (Integration)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Thermofluids Engineer II
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Thermal Hardware and Test Engineer II
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Propulsion Engineer - Ground Fluids
On-site
Propulsion
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Principal Propulsion Engineer - Ground Fluids
On-site
Propulsion
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Manufacturing Engineer II (Structures)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Structures)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Payloads)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Principal Manufacturing Engineer (Payloads)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Manufacturing Engineer (Integration)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Manager Systems, Integration, and Test
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
2mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Spacecraft Technician (Propulsion and Harness Integration – Satellites)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Structures Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Systems, Integration, and Test Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Scientist, Analytical Sciences
On-site
Product
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Principal Guidance, Navigation, and Controls Engineer
On-site
Autonomous Systems
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Scientist, Analytical Sciences
On-site
Product
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Site Reliability Engineer
On-site
Site Reliability
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Supply Chain Engineer- Avionics/Electro-Mechanical
On-site
Supply Chain
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Supply Chain Engineer- Mechanical
On-site
Supply Chain
El Segundo, California, United States
3mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Mechanisms Technician (Aerospace)
On-site
Build
El Segundo, California, United States
4mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Avionics Hardware Development Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
4mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Senior Avionics Hardware Development Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
4mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Principal Avionics Hardware Development Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
6mo ago
On-site
Full-time
Integration & Test Engineer
On-site
Spacecraft Engineering
El Segundo, California, United States
1y ago
On-site
Full-time