Manufacturing Engineering Internship - Summer 2027
About This Role
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 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
Benefits for Interns
Health & Wellness
Paid observed 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
Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial
$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
Up to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible
Up to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible
Workplace Experience & Perks
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