Manufacturing Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
About The Position
Spring internships will range between the months of January and May. All dates dependent upon the university schedule of the selected students. Internships are full-time and on-site in El Segundo, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program. The Manufacturing Engineering Team at Varda is responsible for the assembly and integration of our spacecraft and reentry systems. Interns on this team play a critical role in bridging the gap between design and production, gaining hands-on experience with flight hardware, build operations, and real-time problem solving. Whether you're designing production tooling, refining hardware for manufacturability, or designing the factory itself, you’ll be directly contributing to mission success. 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.
Requirements
- Hands-on experience in any discipline from project teams or internships
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes (5S, production floor space, etc)
- Modeling/Assembly CAD experience
- Actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program
Nice To Haves
- Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in Engineering or Physics (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field)
- Strong understanding of core engineering concepts, with completed coursework in: Statics, Dynamics, including Fluid Dynamics, Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer
- Experience using engineering tools such as CAD (e.g., NX), MATLAB, and/or LabVIEW
- Experience with SQL programming language
- Proven ability to own and deliver a technically complex project, preferably in a team setting (e.g., FSAE, senior design, rocket team, etc.)
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment
Responsibilities
- Own or contribute to factory design to support production scaling needs
- Create new production processes or improve existing workflows
- Optimize hardware designs for manufacturability
- Perform hands-on production tasks or support production operations when needed
Benefits
- Hourly Rate: $33.00
- Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
- Commuter benefit to support local transportation
- 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
- 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
- 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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
