Varda Space Industries · 10 hours ago
Mechanical Engineering Internship - Summer 2026
El Segundo, CA
Internship
Onsite
Intern
Start in 2026 SummerVarda Space Industries is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure. The Mechanical Engineering Internship provides an opportunity to work on critical spaceflight hardware and ground support systems, contributing directly to in-space manufacturing and reentry missions.
AerospaceManufacturingProduct Design
No H1B
U.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Contribute to the design and development of spacecraft hardware or ground support equipment (MGSE)
Support test campaign planning and execution, including test stand design and data analysis
Create CAD models, detailed drawings, and perform basic engineering analysis (FEA, thermal, etc.)
Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet hardware requirements
Perform hands-on fabrication tasks or support machining operations when needed
Qualification
Required
Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in Engineering or Physics (Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field)
Strong understanding of core engineering concepts, with completed coursework in: Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer
Experience using engineering tools such as CAD (e.g., NX), MATLAB, and/or LabVIEW
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
Preferred
Junior or Senior academic standing
Previous internship or co-op experience in a technical role
Experience with fabrication or machining (manual or CNC)
Familiarity with NX, GD&T, Femap/Nastran, or similar engineering tools
Background in space systems, spacecraft structures, or aerospace manufacturing processes
Demonstrated success in technical extracurriculars (e.g., Rocket Club, Formula SAE, etc.)
Benefits
Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side
Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded)
401(k) matching (interns excluded)
Unlimited PTO (interns excluded)
Health insurance, including Vision and Dental
Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.
Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)
Company
Varda Space Industries
Varda is building the infrastructure for a thriving orbital economy, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.
Founded in 2021
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
$328.02MKey Investors
Alumni VenturesCaffeinated CapitalKhosla Ventures
2025-07-10Series C· $187M
2024-12-19Series C
2024-04-05Series B· $90M
Leadership Team
Will Bruey
Chief Executive Officer
Recent News
Business Insider
2025-12-25
2025-12-17
Company data provided by crunchbase