Propulsion Engineering Internship

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 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, many products used on Earth today 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 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 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, with offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. We also have offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

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

About This Role

Spring internships will range between January and May, with dates dependent on the university schedule of selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, CA. To be considered, 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. The system is completely designed, analyzed, fabricated, and tested in-house, giving 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 work on a collaborative team in a startup environment while learning from some of the most accomplished aerospace professionals in the world. We're dedicated to providing an experience where 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 at least one of: Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Compressible Flow, or Combustion.
• Pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, 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 (e.g., Rocket club, Formula SAE).
• 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.

Benefits

Consider your benefits covered for launch. At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions:

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays.
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance.
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers).
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting, and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic.
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up.
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested).
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed.

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly.
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and mission-success celebrations.
• Complimentary EV charging.

Benefits for Internship Positions:

Health & Wellness

• Paid observed holidays.
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options.
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.

Financial

• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement.
• Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible.
• Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible.

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly.
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and mission-success celebrations.
• Complimentary EV charging.

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 of this, 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.

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, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.