Recruiting Operations Internship - Fall 2026

Recruiting Operations Internship - Fall 2026

El Segundo, California, United States

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

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.

As part of the Recruiting team, you will work on projects aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of Varda's university recruiting efforts. In this role, you will support fall university recruiting by building contact decks for target schools, preparing and organizing swag for career fairs, and helping coordinate logistics for on-campus events. You will assist in conducting interviews, taking structured notes, tracking recruiting metrics, and scheduling team meetings. This role will also include travel to career fairs and direct support of on-site recruiting activities.

Internships at Varda are designed for students looking to grow both professionally and operationally while contributing to high-impact initiatives. You will work closely with a collaborative team in a fast-paced startup environment, gaining exposure to how top talent is identified, engaged, and brought into a cutting-edge aerospace company. We're committed to providing an experience where your contributions directly support Varda's growth and success.

Responsibilities

• Support University Recruiting: Build and maintain contact decks for target schools and programs
• Career Fair Preparation: Organize and manage swag, materials, and logistics for recruiting events
• Event Support: Travel to and assist with on-campus recruiting and career fairs
• Interview Coordination: Help schedule interviews, support interview logistics, and take structured notes
• Recruiting Operations: Assist with scheduling team meetings and coordinating internal communication
• Metrics & Reporting: Track and report on key recruiting metrics and pipeline performance

Basic Qualifications

• Pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Previous experience with event coordination, administrative support, or operational tasks
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environment

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Previous internship or experience in operations, recruiting, or coordination
• Experience with spreadsheets, tracking data, or reporting metrics
• Interest in space, pharma, or high-growth startups

Compensation

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

Benefits

Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well-being, and a high-quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full-time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):

Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

Workplace Experience & Perks

• Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and 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 the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice