Applications Engineering Internship - Spring 2027

Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Our W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated in-house, including pharmaceutical processing payloads, capsules, C-PICA heat shields, and satellite buses. From life-saving pharmaceuticals to advanced fiber optics, Varda enables products that can only be manufactured in space. We are expanding the economic bounds of humankind by creating both the products and infrastructure needed for space to directly benefit life on Earth.

Our team includes veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies, and Silicon Valley. Founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov, Varda is backed by world-class investors such as Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital. Headquartered in El Segundo, California, Varda has offices and production facilities where vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested, with additional offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL.

About the role

Spring internships will range between January and May, dependent upon university schedules. 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 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 collaborate in a startup environment and learn from accomplished aerospace professionals.

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Skills

• 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.

Pay

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area.
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation.

Benefits

Interns receive a subset of the following benefits:

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays.
• Wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses.