Manufacturing Engineering Internship - Spring 2027

About This Role

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.

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

Basic Qualifications

Hands-on experience in any discipline from project teams or internships

Familiarity with manufacturing processes (5S, production floor space, etc)

Modeling/Assembly CAD experience

Preferred Skills And Experience

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

Compensation

Hourly Rate: $33.00

Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area

Commuter benefit to support local transportation