Summer Internship - Avionics Engineering

Avionics Engineering Internship - Summer 2027
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 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. 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 Avionics Team is responsible for all electronics on the spacecraft, ranging from flight computers, to batteries, and radios. Across the different disciplines, interns can look forward to owning a new circuit design and owning it from start to finish, allowing them to capture schematics, perform layout, manufacture, and test hardware within their internship period. Come work with the team and help design the future electronics for our Spacecraft.

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.

Design and test custom PCBs for embedded electronics and analog/digital systems

Work on end-to-end development of hardware systems including schematic capture, layout, and testing

Contribute to one or more projects; examples of previous intern projects include the following:

Familiarity with microcontroller programming

Some experience or interest in Python programming

Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field

Entering Junior year or later in your academic program

Previous hands-on experience in project teams or labs

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

At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work. Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions:

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
120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
12weeks ofparental leave(with supplemental disability leavefor CAmothers)
401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediatelyvested)
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
Relocation supportfor new hires, if needed

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
Intern Positions:

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

Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
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. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

Citizenship and Immigration Services. 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.

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.As set forth in Varda Space Industries’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

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