Propulsion Engineering Internship - Spring 2027
Join Varda as a Propulsion Engineering Intern to work on impactful projects in a startup environment focused on commercial space infrastructure.
Posted by employer 2 months ago
First seen on Joblaze 2 months ago
Last verified on the company career page 21 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
Requirements
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: years of experience, visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Propulsion Engineering Internship at Varda Space involves hands-on work with fluid systems critical for spacecraft maneuvers and reentry, including thrusters and propellant tanks. Candidates should have a solid foundation in engineering principles, particularly in fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, along with experience in design software and testing. This role is ideal for students pursuing degrees in engineering who are eager to apply their knowledge in a fast-paced startup environment. Varda's team comprises seasoned professionals from leading aerospace companies, providing a unique opportunity for mentorship.
Joblaze insights
- Listed about 2 months ago — first seen on Joblaze August 9, 2026. Last confirmed on Varda Space's careers page October 11, 2026.
- Python appears in 20% of 641 comparable intern other roles in United States; Teamcenter appears in 0.2% of 641 comparable intern other roles in United States.
Quick facts
- Is the Propulsion Engineering Internship - Spring 2027 role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the salary range?
- Varda Space lists $33–$33 for this role.
- Where is the role based?
- Varda Space is hiring for this position in El Segundo, California, United States.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Combustion, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, GD&T, Heat Transfer, MATLAB.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Varda Space targets intern candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Internship for this Propulsion Engineering Internship - Spring 2027 role at Varda Space.
From the original posting
About Varda
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 Los Angeles, CA. To be considered for this internship, candidates must be actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program.
The propulsion team is responsible for fluid systems on the vehicle required to complete spacecraft orbital maneuvers and earth reentry. This includes thrusters for primary maneuvers and attitude control, propellant tanks, and all associated plumbing and fluid components on the spacecraft. This system is completely designed, analyzed, fabricated, and tested in house which enables successful candidates exposure across all aspects of the design and manufacturing lifecycle of a space vehicle system.
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 hardware or software design to support development of Spacecraft or payload
- Create or support test campaigns and build test stands
- Perform necessary analysis to support development and testing
Basic Qualifications
- Must have completed some Engineering coursework relevant to Propulsion, including but not limited to:
- At least one of:
- Fluid Mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Heat Transfer
- Compressible Flow
- Combustion
- At least one of:
- Pursuing a bachelor's or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineer, or Electrical Engineering (or similar engineering degrees)
- Familiarity with engineering design software and principles (NX/Teamcenter, GD&T, Matlab/Python, and analysis packages)
- Strong fundamentals in fluids engineering
- Prior hands-on experience building or testing fluid systems
- Familiarity with safe operation of combustion devices, rocket propellants, and pressurized systems
- Familiarity or exposure to high precision manufacturing environments
Preferred Skills And Experience
- Previous internship or co-op experience
- Previous experience on technical project teams (i.e. Rocket club, formula SAE, etc.)
- Completion of a Propulsion or Rocket Propulsion survey course
Projects You May Work On
Intern projects will be tailored to company needs and student skillsets closer to the start date. Typical projects include:
- Hotfire test facility propellant system design
- Component test bench design
- Automated data reduction software
- Valve qualification test program development and execution
- Bus Ground Fluids Equipment design
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
Standard company text repeated across Varda Space's postings is omitted here.