Mission Operations Internship - Fall 2026

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   Fall internships will range between the months of August and December.  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.) Projects You May Work On Full stack web application or tooling Preferably for execution of team project or complex operation Built ground station scheduling tool Built ops scheduling tool to track planning tools Compensation Hourly Rate: $33.00 Housing stipend for interns relocating to the area Commuter benefit to support local transportation Benefits Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):   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