About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

As a Software Engineering Intern, you will contribute to the software that powers Varda’s missions across ground systems, flight and embedded software, testing and simulation, and developer platform and infrastructure. You will help build tools and services that assist engineers and operators in monitoring, commanding, and analyzing spacecraft, strengthen testing and simulation capabilities, and improve reliability and observability for mission‑critical operations.

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including those historically underrepresented in aerospace and software, as well as candidates from non‑traditional educational paths. If you are driven by curiosity, motivated to learn fundamentals, and excited to tackle real engineering constraints, we want to hear from you. Even if you don’t meet every preferred skill or haven’t had access to robotics teams, embedded labs, or maker spaces. We value potential, clarity of thought, and growth mindset.

What You Will Work On

At Varda, writing code is often the smaller challenge. The larger challenge is engineering systems that behave correctly under real constraints. We think about the timing, determinism, safety, reliability, and clarity of design. We value first‑principles reasoning, curiosity about how computers and networks actually work, and a disciplined approach to understanding problems at their root.

• Work with engineers building components for bare‑metal, RTOS, and Linux‑based embedded processors and learn verification and validation techniques used to ensure system quality.
• Contribute to services for telemetry ingestion, scaling, distribution, and commanding, and help build operator‑focused interfaces that reduce cognitive load during integration, testing, and on‑orbit operations.
• Build tools for flight‑software simulations, device emulators, and automated tests to enable fast, safe iteration for avionics, GNC, and mission operations teams.
• Help standardize CI/CD pipelines, artifact management, service templates, infrastructure‑as‑code, hardware‑in‑the‑loop frameworks, test harnesses, and observability tools.

Responsibilities

You will be paired with mentors across Mission Software, Flight Software, and Embedded Systems, and your projects will be matched to your skills and coursework.

• Use first‑principles reasoning to approach problems and justify design tradeoffs.
• Build Python and/or C++ tools, services, and libraries that interface with flight and ground systems, emphasizing correctness, determinism, and observability.
• Contribute to automation for simulation, hardware‑in‑the‑loop, and scenario‑based testing.
• Debug issues that cross abstraction boundaries, including OS behavior, networking, timing, and hardware‑software interactions.
• Collaborate across flight software, embedded systems, mission operations, and test teams; communicate clearly, ask clarifying questions early, and seek support when needed.

Basic Qualifications

• Proficiency in C++ and/or Python.
• Actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate program during the internship term.
• Understanding of core computer science fundamentals including data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.
• Ability to debug complex software issues and comfort working in Linux environments.

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Familiarity with systems fundamentals including concurrency, networking, performance, and reliability.
• Exposure to real‑time embedded development or safety‑critical software, and a working knowledge of math and physics.
• Experience may come from coursework, personal projects, community college, bootcamps, open‑source contributions, internships, or self‑driven learning. We care more about your fundamentals, curiosity, and engineering approach than how you acquired them.
• Participation in any project work. Whether robotics, rocketry, capstone projects, personal builds, lab work, or open‑source contributions. Focus on demonstrating an interest in understanding systems beneath abstraction layers.

Relevant Coursework 

• Data Structures & Algorithms
• Operating Systems
• Computer Architecture
• Software Engineering / CS Fundamentals
• Bonus: Signals and Systems, Digital Design, Embedded Systems, Electronics

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $37.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Summer internships will range between the months of May and August. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA.

We are hiring a summer cybersecurity intern to help our Information security team with day to day work. You will help us watch for security alerts, write things down clearly, and gather the paperwork we need for our upcoming cybersecurity certification.

This is a real job, not busywork. You will look at real alerts, write real reports, and help us get ready for a real audit. You will sit with our Cybersecurity Analyst and our InfoSec Engineer, and you will learn how a security team works inside a company.

If you do well this summer, we will strongly consider you for a full-time junior analyst role after you graduate

Responsibilities

Working with the Cybersecurity Analyst, you will:

• Help review security alerts that come in each day. You will read them, decide what they are, and write down what you did about them.

• Help set up, fine tune, and improve the way our security tools are configured. These tools include Zscaler, CrowdStrike, ThreatLocker, Darktrace, and AlienVault. You will work with your lead to adjust settings, clean up noisy alerts, and make sure each tool is doing its job well.

• Help keep our security event logs up to date, so we have a clear record of what happened and how it was handled.

• Pull sample logs from our security tools and organize them, so we can show an auditor that we are watching the right things.

• Help keep track of the reports we get from our outside security partner, making sure they arrive on time and get filed in the right place.

• Help upload reports and updates into the software we use to track our compliance work.

• Work on one bigger summer project that you own from start to finish. You will pick this with your lead in the first week. Some examples: a report on gaps in our logging, a refreshed incident response guide, or a simple dashboard.

What You Will Learn

• How a information security team runs its day to day work when the company has to pass a security audit.

• How the things we do every day (looking at alerts, writing things down, storing logs) turn into the proof an auditor wants to see.

• Hands on use of real security tools that protect computers, networks, web traffic, software, and user accounts. You will get real practice setting up and improving tools like Zscaler, CrowdStrike, ThreatLocker, Darktrace, and AlienVault.

• How to write clearly about technical problems so that people who are not technical can still understand you.

• How the different people on a informaiton security team work together: the InfoSec Head, the analyst, the engineer, the compliance manager, and our outside security partners.

What We Are Looking For

• You are a current undergrad in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, information systems, or a similar major. You will be a rising junior or rising senior this coming fall.

• You plan to graduate between December 2026 and June 2027.

• You have taken classes or taught yourself at least two of these: networking, how operating systems work, how user accounts and passwords are managed, how to respond to security incidents, or how to watch for security problems.

• You are comfortable reading logs and working with data in a spreadsheet. You know what a basic script is, even if you have not written many.

• You write clearly. You will be writing notes and reports that other people rely on.

• You are organized, you pay attention to details, and you are willing to ask questions when something is unclear.

• You are allowed to work in the United States for the full length of the internship without needing us to sponsor a visa.

Nice to Have (Not Required)

• You are working toward a beginner certification like CompTIA Security Plus or Network Plus.

• You have played with security tools on your own, in a home lab, in a school club, or in a capture the flag competition.

• You have used or read about any of these tools: Zscaler, CrowdStrike, ThreatLocker, Darktrace, AlienVault, Okta, or Vanta.

• You have heard of compliance frameworks like NIST 800 171, NIST 800 53, ISO 27001, or CMMC and understand the basics.

• You can write simple scripts in Python, PowerShell, or Bash.

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

As part of the Recruiting team, you will work on projects aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of Varda’s university recruiting efforts. In this role, you will support fall university recruiting by building contact decks for target schools, preparing and organizing swag for career fairs, and helping coordinate logistics for on-campus events. You will assist in conducting interviews, taking structured notes, tracking recruiting metrics, and scheduling team meetings. This role will also include travel to career fairs and direct support of on-site recruiting activities.

Internships at Varda are designed for students looking to grow both professionally and operationally while contributing to high-impact initiatives. You will work closely with a collaborative team in a fast-paced startup environment, gaining exposure to how top talent is identified, engaged, and brought into a cutting-edge aerospace company. We’re committed to providing an experience where your contributions directly support Varda’s growth and success.

Responsibilities

• Support University Recruiting: Build and maintain contact decks for target schools and programs
• Career Fair Preparation: Organize and manage swag, materials, and logistics for recruiting events
• Event Support: Travel to and assist with on-campus recruiting and career fairs
• Interview Coordination: Help schedule interviews, support interview logistics, and take structured notes
• Recruiting Operations: Assist with scheduling team meetings and coordinating internal communication
• Metrics & Reporting: Track and report on key recruiting metrics and pipeline performance

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university
• Previous experience with event coordination, administrative support, or operational tasks
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Previous internship or experience in operations, recruiting, or coordination
• Experience with spreadsheets, tracking data, or reporting metrics
• Interest in space, pharma, or high-growth startups

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The Vehicle Integration & Test team at Varda is responsible for the assembly, integration, and verification of our spacecraft and reentry systems. Interns on this team play a critical role in bridging the gap between design and flight, gaining hands-on experience with flight hardware, test operations, and real-time problem solving. Whether you're building test equipment, assembling mechanical systems, or running spacecraft-level checks, you’ll be directly contributing to mission success.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success.

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to hardware or software design to support development of Spacecraft or payload 
• Develop and support system test campaigns
• Perform necessary analysis to support development and verification efforts 

Basic Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in any engineering discipline
• Modeling/Assembly CAD experience

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Previous internship or co-op experience 
• Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.)
• Python

 Candidate Profiles

Successful candidates often fall into one of the following technical profiles, though responsibilities may overlap depending on project needs.

Avionics / Electrical Systems

• Develop and interpret wiring schematics and harnessing
• Support spacecraft electrical integration
• Assist with avionics hardware testing and troubleshooting

Propulsion / Ground Test Engineering

• Support propulsion system build and operation
• Design ground support equipment (GSE) and develop propulsion test plans
• Assist in executing and documenting hardware test campaigns

Software / Test Automation

• Develop Python-based tools and user interfaces for test operations
• Support test automation and data collection systems
• Build software utilities to improve hardware testing workflows

Projects You May Work On

Intern projects will be tailored to company needs and student skillsets closer to the start date. Typical projects include:

• Procedure generation to build and test spacecraft
• Ground Support Equipment (GSE) design
• Test development and execution
• Flight hardware upgrades and modifications
• Automating vehicle testing and data review

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The Varda Mechanical Engineering Internship provides an opportunity to work on critical spaceflight hardware and ground support systems, contributing directly to our in-space manufacturing and reentry missions. Interns will join a fast-paced team environment, collaborating on design, analysis, and test efforts for both flight and non-flight hardware.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the design and development of spacecraft hardware or ground support equipment (MGSE)

• Support test campaign planning and execution, including test stand design and data analysis

• Create CAD models, detailed drawings, and perform basic engineering analysis (FEA, thermal, etc.)

• Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet hardware requirements

• Perform hands-on fabrication tasks or support machining operations when needed

Basic Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in Engineering or Physics (Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field)

• Strong understanding of core engineering concepts, with completed coursework in:

  • Statics

  • Dynamics

  • Mechanics of Materials

  • Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer

• Experience using engineering tools such as CAD (e.g., NX), MATLAB, and/or LabVIEW

• Proven ability to own and deliver a technically complex project, preferably in a team setting (e.g., FSAE, senior design, rocket team, etc.)

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Junior or Senior academic standing

• Previous internship or co-op experience in a technical role

• Experience with fabrication or machining (manual or CNC)

• Familiarity with NX, GD&T, Femap/Nastran, or similar engineering tools

• Background in space systems, spacecraft structures, or aerospace manufacturing processes

• Demonstrated success in technical extracurriculars (e.g., Rocket Club, Formula SAE, etc.)

Projects You May Work On

Intern projects will be tailored to company needs and student skillsets closer to the start date. Typical projects include:

• Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) design

• Tooling design and fabrication support

• Test setup development and execution

• Flight hardware upgrades and modifications

• Generative design applications for spacecraft components

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The Supply Chain role involves managing the movement of goods, services, and information to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Responsibilities vary by position but generally include procurement, logistics, inventory management, demand planning, and process optimization. Key roles such as Supply Chain Analysts, Procurement Specialists, and Logistics Coordinators focus on data analysis, supplier management, and distribution. Supply Chain Managers oversee overall strategy and operations, ensuring smooth and cost-effective processes from sourcing to delivery.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

• Create metrics for supply chain process improvement guidance 
• Coordinate purchasing of flight components from PO placement to delivery 
• Run open order meetings and purchasing follow ups with suppliers for on time delivery 
• Support various areas in supply chain and tracking of inventory as needed 

• Pursuing a degree in business, supply chain, and/or engineering  
• Applicable experience in corporate or business functions  

• Strong interpersonal skills 
• Ability to work cross-functionally with different groups and teams 
• Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively 

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The propulsion team is responsible for fluid systems on the vehicle required to complete spacecraft orbital maneuvers and earth reentry. This includes thrusters for primary maneuvers and attitude control, propellant tanks, and all associated plumbing and fluid components on the spacecraft. This system is completely designed, analyzed, fabricated, and tested in house which enables successful candidates exposure across all aspects of the design and manufacturing lifecycle of a space vehicle system.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to hardware or software design to support development of Spacecraft or payload 
• Create or support test campaigns and build test stands 
• Perform necessary analysis to support development and testing 

Basic Qualifications

• Must have completed some Engineering coursework relevant to Propulsion, including but not limited to:
  • At least one of:
    • Fluid Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics
    • Heat Transfer
    • Compressible Flow
    • Combustion
• Pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineer, or Electrical Engineering (or similar engineering degrees)
• Familiarity with engineering design software and principles (NX/Teamcenter, GD&T, Matlab/Python, and analysis packages)
• Strong fundamentals in fluids engineering 
• Prior hands-on experience building or testing fluid systems 
• Familiarity with safe operation of combustion devices, rocket propellants, and pressurized systems
• Familiarity or exposure to high precision manufacturing environments

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Previous internship or co-op experience 
• Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.) 
• Completion of a Propulsion or Rocket Propulsion survey course

Projects You May Work On

Intern projects will be tailored to company needs and student skillsets closer to the start date. Typical projects include:

• Hotfire test facility propellant system design
• Component test bench design
• Automated data reduction software
• Valve qualification test program development and execution
• Bus Ground Fluids Equipment design

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The Mission Operations team is responsible for developing, planning, and executing Varda's on-orbit missions.  Members of this team need to be a jack-of-all trades, capable of applying cross-discipline engineering to bespoke solutions.  For this role, you will work alongside experienced Mission Directors and multiple engineering teams to conceptualize, develop, and standup web tools that will support our rapidly growing flight manifest. 

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• Operate as an integrated member of Varda’s Mission Operations team

• Own the full-stack development life cycle of internal tools used in spacecraft and payload operations

• Develop, test, and deploy web-based applications to support automation and scalability as mission cadence increases

• Contribute to system verification, infrastructure integration, and debugging of mission-critical code

• Collaborate across engineering teams to build and implement the first-use cases of your tools

• Support mission operations in real time as your code is deployed in live spaceflight environments

Basic Qualifications

• Full-stack coding experience with web development languages such as:

  • Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, C, C++, nginx

• Experience deploying, executing, and debugging server-based applications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field

• Coursework in:

  • Python programming, full-stack development, orbital mechanics (CS + Aero background preferred)

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Experience building scalable web applications

• Understanding of software data management and scaling techniques

• Experience applying code to aerospace systems or complex, high-reliability environments

• Familiarity with Continuous Integration pipelines and Linux environments

• Previous internship, co-op, or real-world development experience

• Hands-on project team experience (e.g. CubeSat, Solar Car, Formula SAE, etc.)

Projects You May Work On

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

Varda is looking for a hands-on Automation & Test Intern to support the design, build, and test of terrestrial hardware systems used in spacecraft and propulsion testing. This role offers a 50/50 split between lab work and desk engineering, ideal for candidates eager to apply their electrical and programming skills in a real-world aerospace environment.

Interns in this position will gain meaningful experience developing ground support equipment, including test racks, harnesses, and test chambers. You'll work closely with multidisciplinary teams to help bring spacecraft hardware from concept to test readiness.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• Support the development of electrical ground support equipment for propulsion test stands

• Assist in the testing and build-out of hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) racks and harnesses

• Design and assemble custom terrestrial hardware and test setups

• Support spacecraft testing operations, including thermal vacuum chamber systems

• Engage in hands-on build work as well as electrical/software integration and documentation

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering

• Proficiency in Python

  • Experience with:

    • Building and testing electrical systems (racks, wiring, harnesses)

    • Hands-on work with mechanical/electrical tools

    • Basic programming for control or data acquisition systems

• Comfortable with a 50% lab / 50% desk work split

• Relevant coursework in electrical engineering and programming, with cross-functional exposure to mechanical and avionics systems

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Undergraduate or Master’s level student

• Previous internship or lab research experience

• Involvement in hands-on project teams (e.g., SAE, rocketry, robotics)

Projects You May Work On

• Design, fabrication, and assembly of thermal vacuum chamber test equipment, including wiring, electronics, pumps, and fluid loops

• Development of custom tooling and hardware for spacecraft testing (e.g., weldments, machined parts)

• Integration of electrical ground support systems for full-vehicle propulsion test campaigns

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The payload team is responsible for designing, building, testing, and operating Varda's in-space manufacturing and reentry testbed payloads. Given the cross-functional nature of payload projects, you'll have the opportunity to leverage your programming, mechatronics, structures, fabrication, and testing skills to deliver flight electromechanical hardware while engaging with subject matter experts from a wide variety of technical disciplines.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to hardware or software design to support development of Spacecraft or payload 
• Create or support test campaigns and build test stands 
• Perform necessary analysis to support development and testing 

Basic Qualifications

• Experience with mechanical CAD (NX preferred)
• Experience designing, building, and/or operating electromechanical hardware (motors, sensors, linkages, gearboxes, solenoids, etc.)
• Basic programming skills in at least one language (python preferred)
• Comfort using common hand tools and interest in learning how to use machine tools to fabricate parts (e.g., drill press, lathe, mill, etc.)
• Pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineer, or Electrical Engineering (or similar engineering degrees) 

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Previous internship or co-op experience 
• Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.) 

Projects You May Work On

Intern projects will be tailored to company needs and student skillsets closer to the start date. Typical projects include full cycle (design, analysis, build, test, fly) ownership of :

• Flight mechanisms such as reaction wheels
• Microgravity pharmaceutical manufacturing payloads
• Hosted payloads such as heat shields, navigation systems, RF systems, etc.
• Custom test equipment or prototypes to develop all of the above

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The Manufacturing Engineering Team at Varda is responsible for the assembly and integration of our spacecraft and reentry systems. Interns on this team play a critical role in bridging the gap between design and production, gaining hands-on experience with flight hardware, build operations, and real-time problem solving. Whether you're designing production tooling, refining hardware for manufacturability, or designing the factory itself, you’ll be directly contributing to mission success. 

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success.  

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to factory design to support production scaling needs 

• Create new production processes or improve existing workflows  

• Optimize hardware designs for manufacturability  

• Perform hands-on production tasks or support production operations when needed 

Basic Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in any discipline from project teams or internships 

• Familiarity with manufacturing processes (5S, production floor space, etc) 

• Modeling/Assembly CAD experience 

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in Engineering or Physics (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field) 

• Strong understanding of core engineering concepts, with completed coursework in: 

• • Statics 

• • Dynamics, including Fluid Dynamics 

• • Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer 

• Experience using engineering tools such as CAD (e.g., NX), MATLAB, and/or LabVIEW 

• Experience with SQL programming language 

• Proven ability to own and deliver a technically complex project, preferably in a team setting (e.g., FSAE, senior design, rocket team, etc.) 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment 

Projects You May Work On

Intern projects will be tailored to company needs and student skillsets closer to the start date. Typical projects include:

• Procedure generation to build and test spacecraft
• Ground Support Equipment (GSE) design
• Test development and execution
• Flight hardware upgrades and modifications
• Automating vehicle testing and data review

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The GNC (Guidance, Navigation & Controls) team is responsible for the design, analysis, simulation, and operational performance of Varda’s reentry vehicles. In this internship, you'll help enable end-to-end GNC performance for our flight vehicles—supporting everything from 6DOF simulation and control system modeling to sensor integration and trajectory optimization.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• As part of the GNC team, own or contribute to analysis, algorithms and simulations for reentry vehicles 
• Own Integration and testing of GNC sensors, actuators and software in simulation and hardware in the loop environments
• Design and implement mission critical tooling needed to facilitate automated maneuver responsibility and scheduling decisions
• Design and implementation of autonomous satellite attitude control, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, burn planning and atmospheric re-entry algorithms
• Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsule

Basic Qualifications

• Previous GNC internship 
• Familiar with orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, trajectory design and optimization, feedback controls, 6DOF flight simulations, navigation solutions, guidance navigation and controls flight algorithms, monte carlo analysis, 
• Familiarity with C++ or python and modern software development principles 

Preferred Skills And Experience  

• At least one year of experience on a technical project team (e.g., CubeSat, Rocket Team, AIAA Design-Build-Fly, Formula SAE)

• Previous experience working on simulation support tools or GNC tooling for aerospace vehicles

• Familiarity with Monte Carlo analysis, navigation filters, sensor/actuator integration, or HIL simulation environments

• Experience with tools like GMAT, POST2, MATLAB/Simulink, or custom orbital simulation frameworks

• Strong communication and documentation skills

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

About This Role 

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. 

The aerodynamic department is responsible for all aerodynamic and aero-heating analysis for all our flight vehicles in all flight regimes. Varda already has a flight-proven vehicle; however, this summer we will work on extending our vehicle payload capabilities for commercial customers and flight test capabilities for hypersonic testbed customers. The occupant of this role will contribute by running simulations and supporting wind tunnel activities that would help improve the capabilities of Varda vehicles!

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. You will be working on a collaborative team in a startup environment while being able to learn from some of most accomplished and experienced aerospace professionals in the world. We’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success. 

Responsibilities

• Run Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze vehicle performance

• Support wind tunnel testing campaigns and post-processing of data

• Collaborate with engineers to assess aerodynamic loads and thermal environments

• Contribute to vehicle design improvements based on simulation and test data

Basic Qualifications

• Coursework in:

  • Compressible Fluid Mechanics

  • Thermodynamics

  • Numerical Methods

  • Programming in Python and/or MATLAB

• Experience with:

  • Running CFD tools

  • Using Linux-based systems

  • Programming in Python and/or MATLAB

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Currently pursuing or completed a Master’s degree in Aerodynamics or Numerical Methods
• Experience running CFD or DSMC
• Familiar with Tecplot and Pointwise
• Some graduate school experience in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics 
• Some past experience on an aerodynamics or fluid mechanics project or club

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation