Thermal Engineering Internship - Summer 2027

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.

As a part of the Thermal team you will get to work on the vehicle thermal analysis model to generate temperature predictions for our tests and missions. There may also be opportunities to run tests to verify our model predictions, create tools to help post-processing data, and design thermal hardware for the flight vehicle.

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

• Support thermal vacuum (TVAC) test campaigns including setup, execution, and data collection
• Contribute to thermal models for spacecraft components and systems using tools like Thermal Desktop and ANSYS
• Analyze flight and ground test thermal data using Python and MATLAB
• Design, procure, test, and validate thermal hardware (e.g., MLI blankets, heat straps, thermal interfaces)
• Support integration and test (I&T) activities related to thermal components and subsystems
• Collaborate with systems and mechanical teams to ensure thermal requirements are met

Basic Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline
• Completed coursework in:
• Heat Transfer
• Thermodynamics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Data processing
• Experience or coursework using thermal analysis software (e.g., Thermal Desktop, Ansys, Star CCM)
• Proficiency in CAD tools (NX, AutoCAD, PTC, or similar)
• Comfortable with data analysis in MATLAB and Python
• Prior thermal internship, lab, project team, or rigorous school project experience relevant to heat transfer/thermal

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Prior thermal internship experience in aerospace
• Hardware procurement, build, and testing experience
• Familiarity with spacecraft testing environments or aerospace systems
• Experience working on a student design or competition team (e.g., rocketry, CubeSat, Formula SAE)
• Leadership experience (demonstrated communication, organization, problem solving)

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $33.00
• Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area
• Commuter benefit to support local transportation

Benefits

• Consider your benefits covered for launch.
• At Varda, we invest in benefits and perks that support your health, financial well-being, and life beyond work.
• Benefits vary by position, with packages designed specifically for our regular full-time employees and interns.

Regular Full-Time Positions: Health & Wellness

• Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
• 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
• Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
• $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
• 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
• Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
• Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents

Financial & Retirement

• Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
• 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
• $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
• Relocation support for new hires, if needed

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

Intern Positions: Health & Wellness

• Paid observed holidays

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

• 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).