Avionics Engineering Internship

About Varda

Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.

From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.  

Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.  

Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. 

Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

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 Avionics Team is responsible for all electronics on the spacecraft, ranging from flight computers, to batteries, and  radios. Across the different disciplines, interns can look forward to owning a new circuit design and owning it from start to finish, allowing them to capture schematics, perform layout, manufacture, and test hardware within their internship period. Come work with the team and help design the future electronics for our Spacecraft.

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

• Design and test custom PCBs for embedded electronics and analog/digital systems

• Work on end-to-end development of hardware systems including schematic capture, layout, and testing

• Support embedded system development using microcontrollers and sensors

• Contribute to one or more projects; examples of previous intern projects include the following:

  • Embedded Camera System: Integrate camera + optics + microprocessor + Ethernet for use in microscopy and star trackers

  • Thermocouple Logger: Design a ground-up thermocouple logger including cold-junction compensation and coefficient generation

  • Analog TEC Controller: Develop a current-controlled Thermoelectric Cooler driver for biologics temperature control

Basic Qualifications

• Prior experience designing PCBs (printed circuit boards)

• Familiarity with microcontroller programming

• Some experience or interest in Python programming

• Currently pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field

Preferred Skills And Experience 

• Familiarity with Altium or other PCB design tools (not required but preferred)

• Entering Junior year or later in your academic program

• Strong attention to detail and ability to debug hardware prototypes

• Previous hands-on experience in project teams or labs

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

 

ITAR Requirements

Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.

“US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum).

E-Verify Statement

Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

E-Verify Notice                                                               Right To Work Notice

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Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.