Mechanical Engineering Internship

Job Description

Mechanical Engineering Internship | Varda

The Tone:
This is a full-time internship at Varda, located in Los Angeles, CA. Varda is developing commercial space infrastructure to enable in-orbit manufacturing of unique products, like pharmaceuticals, for use on Earth. This role is vital for contributing to the design, analysis, and testing of critical spaceflight and ground support hardware that directly supports these in-space manufacturing and reentry missions. Joining Varda means working to expand the economic bounds of humankind by creating a bustling in-space ecosystem.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Los Angeles, CA

• Mission: Directly contribute to the design, analysis, and test of critical spaceflight hardware and ground support systems for in-space manufacturing and reentry missions.
• Tech Stack: CAD (NX), MATLAB, LabVIEW, Femap/Nastran, GD&T

What You’ll Actually Do
• Design: Contribute to the design and development of spacecraft hardware or mechanical ground support equipment (MGSE).
• Testing: Support test campaign planning and execution, including test stand design and data analysis.
• Modeling: Create CAD models, detailed drawings, and perform basic engineering analysis such as FEA or thermal analysis.
• Collaboration: Participate in design reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to meet hardware requirements.
• Fabrication: Perform hands-on fabrication tasks or support machining operations when needed.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program in Engineering or Physics (Mechanical, Aerospace, or related field) with completed coursework in Statics, Dynamics, Mechanics of Materials, and Thermodynamics or Heat Transfer.
• Experience: Proven ability to own and deliver a technically complex project, preferably in a team setting (e.g., FSAE, senior design, rocket team).
• Skills: Experience using engineering tools such as CAD (e.g., NX), MATLAB, and/or LabVIEW; strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Bonus: Junior or Senior academic standing; previous internship or co-op experience in a technical role; experience with fabrication or machining (manual or CNC); familiarity with NX, GD&T, Femap/Nastran; background in space systems, spacecraft structures, or aerospace manufacturing processes; demonstrated success in technical extracurriculars.