Mission Operations 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 Mission Operations team is responsible for developing, planning, and executing Varda's on-orbit missions. Members of this team need to be a jack-of-all trades, capable of applying cross-discipline engineering to bespoke solutions. For this role, you will work alongside experienced Mission Directors and multiple engineering teams to conceptualize, develop, and standup web tools that will support our rapidly growing flight manifest.
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
Operate as an integrated member of Varda’s Mission Operations team
Own the full-stack development life cycle of internal tools used in spacecraft and payload operations
Develop, test, and deploy web-based applications to support automation and scalability as mission cadence increases
Contribute to system verification, infrastructure integration, and debugging of mission-critical code
Collaborate across engineering teams to build and implement the first-use cases of your tools
Support mission operations in real time as your code is deployed in live spaceflight environments
Basic Qualifications
Full-stack coding experience with web development languages such as:
Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, C, C++, nginx
Experience deploying, executing, and debugging server-based applications
Currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
Coursework in:
Python programming, full-stack development, orbital mechanics (CS + Aero background preferred)
Preferred Skills And Experience
Experience building scalable web applications
Understanding of software data management and scaling techniques
Experience applying code to aerospace systems or complex, high-reliability environments
Familiarity with Continuous Integration pipelines and Linux environments
Previous internship, co-op, or real-world development experience
Hands-on project team experience (e.g. CubeSat, Solar Car, Formula SAE, etc.)
Compensation
Hourly Rate: $37.00
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