Vehicle Integration and Test Internship - Fall 2026

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.

Varda’s team is uniquely suited to accomplish 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.

About This Role

Fall internships will range between the months of August and December. 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.

Responsibilities

• Own or contribute to hardware or software design to support development of Spacecraft or payload
• Develop and support system test campaigns
• Perform necessary analysis to support development and verification efforts

Basic Qualifications

• Hands-on experience in any engineering discipline
• Modeling/Assembly CAD experience

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Previous internship or co-op experience
• Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.)
• Python

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

• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

Benefits

• Health & Wellness
• Financial & Retirement
• Workplace Experience & Perks
• ITAR Requirements
• E-Verify Statement
• E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

Qualifications

• Hourly Rate: $33.00