Varda Space Industries · 20 hours ago
Business Development SkillBridge Intern ( Summer 2026)
El Segundo, CA
Internship
Onsite
Intern
3+ years exp
Start in 2026 SummerVarda Space Industries is a company focused on developing commercial space infrastructure to benefit life on Earth. As a Business Development SkillBridge Intern, you will help identify and capture new business opportunities to expand the use of Varda’s spacecraft in national security missions, collaborating closely with engineering and program teams.
AerospaceManufacturingProduct Design
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Identify and qualify prospective opportunities and the stakeholders, including the US Army, US Space Force, US Air Force, US Navy, Special Operations Command, Combatant Commands and others including commercial entities, that seek space and reentry capability
Take full ownership of select solicitations, managing the process from the initial approach and proposal development through contract negotiations and closure
Collaborate with technical and program management teams to translate customer requirements into feasible mission parameters, ensuring alignment with Varda’s capabilities and strategic objectives
Take ownership on proposals and white papers that include technical scopes, pricing models, compliance documentation, and schedules, ensuring submissions meet customer and regulatory standards
Analyze DoW customer budget exhibits to understand program schedules, funding, milestones and procurement strategies
Develop relationships with key stakeholders—ranging from government customers and academia to private industry leads—and maintain a steady pipeline of opportunities
As required, represent Varda at conferences, networking events, and industry forums to engage with commercial space, academia and DoW market segments
Monitor industry trends, regulatory shifts, and emerging technologies keeping internal teams informed and adjusting strategies accordingly
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or higher in business, engineering, science, or related field
3+ years of DoW Service including at least 1 year of space or hypersonic aerospace relevant roles
Experience with Program Management/Mission Management for a technical aerospace project
Experience interfacing with Industry
Demonstrated interest in spaceflight, hypersonic research, and related R&D fields
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write compelling white papers and proposals
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain productive stakeholder relationships
Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time (both domestic and international)
Active TS/SCI
U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident of the U.S. to conform with U.S. Government space technology export regulations under ITAR
Preferred
Master's degree in business management, strategic studies, or engineering
Engineering Background and Experience
Familiarity with DoW Program/Budget process, proposal processes, international space agency frameworks, and academic research funding cycles
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
Low Earth orbit is open for business.
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