Flight Software Internship - Spring 2027

Varda Space Industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Commuter benefit

Fully stocked kitchen

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in Los Angeles, CA, offers a Spring 2027 flight software internship. Interns work on software powering ground systems, flight software, and embedded systems, with mentors across multiple mission areas.

All internships are full-time and on-site in Los Angeles, with candidates enrolled in accredited undergraduate or graduate programs. You will contribute to building tools and services, improve testing and observability, and gain hands-on experience working on spacecraft

Qualifications

• Proficiency in C++ is required.
• Experience with embedded systems or microcontrollers is required.
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and operating systems.
• Ability to debug complex software issues and work in Linux environments.
• Familiarity with concurrency, networking, and real-time embedded development is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Work with mentors across Mission Software, Flight Software, and Embedded Systems.
• Build Python and/or C++ tools, services, and libraries for flight and ground systems.
• Debug issues across OS, networking, timing, and hardware‑software boundaries.
• Collaborate across teams, communicate clearly, and seek support when needed.

Skills

C++

Embedded systems

Linux

Data structures

Algorithms

Operating systems

Tools

Python

Job description

Flight Software Internship - Spring 2027

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 by Varda 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, 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.

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

About This Role

Spring internships will range between the months of January and May. 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.

Internships at Varda are optimal for students looking to grow technically and professionally while working on impactful projects critical to the company’s success. 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, and w e’re dedicated to providing an experience that will let your decisions and contributions help drive Varda’s success.

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.
• 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++

Experience working with embedded systems or microcontrollers (not limited to Arduino)

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.

Operating Systems

Software Engineering / Computer Science Fundamentals

Data Structures & Algorithms

(Bonus) Signals and Systems

(Bonus) Digital Design, Assembly, Embedded Systems, Electronics

Compensation

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

Benefits for Interns

• 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
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Up to $4,000gross up in relocation support, ifeligible
• Up to $850commute 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, happyhoursand mission‑success celebrations
• Complimentary EV charging

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 our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items,