Varda Space Industries Hiring Applications Engineering Intern

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 pharmaceutical payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and 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 products and infrastructure 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 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 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 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 run between January and May, with dates depending on the university schedule of selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in El Segundo, CA. Candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program.

The Applications Engineer role focuses on the connectivity of systems, data, and processes that power Varda's operations. Applications Engineers build and maintain integrations between enterprise platforms (ERP, PLM, HRIS), develop data pipelines, and create internal tools that improve operations. The work spans data modeling, workflow automation, light software development, and partnering directly with the teams whose processes the applications support.

Internships at Varda are ideal 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 and learn from some of the most accomplished aerospace professionals in the world. We are dedicated to providing an experience where your decisions and contributions help drive Varda's success.

Responsibilities

• Develop dashboards, reports, and metrics that surface operational data to stakeholders across the company.
• Partner with users in engineering, supply chain, finance, and operations to gather requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Document data sources, workflows, and integrations so they can be maintained and improved.
• Support the rollout, configuration, and troubleshooting of internal applications.

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a degree in computer science, information systems, data science, engineering, or a related field.
• Applicable experience with SQL, Python, or low-code/ETL tools.

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Familiarity with enterprise systems (ERP, PLM, CRM, HRIS) or data integration tools (Alteryx, dbt, Power BI).
• Comfort working across the full stack of a data problem: sourcing, modeling, transforming, and presenting.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to gather requirements from non-technical stakeholders.

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 for 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 must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Our employees are exposed to export-controlled items, so 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, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.