Manufacturing Engineering Internship - Summer 2026 at Varda Space Industries

El Segundo, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

02 Jan, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

04 Oct, 25

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Manufacturing Processes, CAD, MATLAB, LabVIEW, SQL, Engineering Concepts, Team Collaboration, Problem Solving, Production Operations, Factory Design, Workflow Improvement, Hardware Optimization, Communication Skills, Project Management, Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics

Industry

Defense and Space Manufacturing

Description

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. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that 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 accomplishing 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 significant 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, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL (coming soon). Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem. 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. 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 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. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current 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 in the U.S.) Learn more about the ITAR here. Benefits Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded) 401(k) matching (interns excluded) Unlimited PTO (interns excluded) Health insurance, including Vision and Dental Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week. Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded) 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. 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. E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice Read more Read more

Responsibilities

Interns will contribute to factory design and improve production processes while gaining hands-on experience with flight hardware. They will also optimize hardware designs for manufacturability and support production operations as needed.