About This Roleย
Fall internships will range between the months of August and December.ย 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.ย
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 designย toย support development of Spacecraft or payloadย
- Develop and support system test campaigns
- Perform necessary analysis to support development and verification effortsย
Basic Qualifications
- Hands-on experience in any engineering discipline
- Modeling/Assembly CAD experience
Preferred Skills And Experienceย
- Previous internship or co-op experienceย
- Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e.ย Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.)
- Python
ย 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