Propulsion Engineering Internship - Summer 2027

Varda Space; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing stipend

Commuter benefit

Health insurance

Wellness reimbursement

Paid holidays

Relocation support

EV charging

Job summary

Varda Space Industries in Los Angeles, CA, offers summer internships ranging from May to August. Interns must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program and work full-time on-site.

The propulsion team handles fluid systems for orbital maneuvers and reentry, with in-house design, analysis, and testing exposure across the lifecycle of a space vehicle. Internships provide hands-on experience, collaboration in a startup environment, and opportunities to learn from

Qualifications

• Engineering coursework relevant to Propulsion (Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Compressible Flow, Combustion).
• Pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Engineering (e.g., Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical).
• Familiarity with NX/Teamcenter, GD&T, MATLAB or Python, and analysis packages.
• Strong fundamentals in fluids engineering and experience with fluid systems.
• Hands-on experience building or testing fluid systems; safe operation of propulsion-related devices.
• Exposure to high-precision manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to hardware or software design to support spacecraft or payload development.
• Create or support test campaigns and build test stands.
• Perform analyses to support development and testing.

Skills

Fluid Mechanics

Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer

Compressible Flow

Combustion

Engineering degree

NX/Teamcenter

GD&T

MATLAB/Python

Fluids engineering

Hands-on fluid systems

Propellant safety

High-precision manufacturing

Internship experience

Rocket club

Formula SAE

Propulsion course

Education

Engineering degree (B.S./B.E./M.S.)

Tools

NX/Teamcenter

GD&T

MATLAB/Python

Job 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.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

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. To be considered for this internship, 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 on the spacecraft. This system is completely designed, analyzed, fabricated, and tested in house which enables 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 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 designtosupport development of Spacecraft or payload
• Create or support test campaignsand buildtest stands
• Perform necessary analysis to support development and testing

Basic Qualifications

• Must have completed some Engineering coursework relevant to Propulsion, including but not limited to:
  • At least one of:
    • Fluid Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics
    • Heat Transfer
    • Compressible Flow
    • Combustion
• Pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineer, or 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 (i.e.Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.)
• 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 for Interns

Health & Wellness

• Paidobservedholidays
• 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 $4,000gross 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

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 our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items, 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 theE-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

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.