Aerodynamics & Analysis Internship - Fall

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.

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.

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 aerodynamic department is responsible for all aerodynamic and aero‑heating analysis for all our flight vehicles in all flight regimes. Varda already has a flight‑proven vehicle; however, this summer we will work on extending our vehicle payload capabilities for commercial customers and flight test capabilities for hypersonic testbed customers. The occupant of this role will contribute by running simulations and supporting wind tunnel activities that would help improve the capabilities of Varda vehicles!

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.

• Run Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to analyze vehicle performance
• Support wind tunnel testing campaigns and post‑processing of data
• Collaborate with engineers to assess aerodynamic loads and thermal environments
• Contribute to vehicle design improvements based on simulation and test data

• Coursework in:

  • Compressible Fluid Mechanics
  • Thermodynamics
  • Numerical Methods
  • Programming in Python and/or MATLAB

• Experience with:

  • Running CFD tools
  • Using Linux‑based systems
  • Programming in Python and/or MATLAB

• Currently pursuing or completed a Master’s degree in Aerodynamics or Numerical Methods
• Experience running CFD or DSMC
• Familiar with Tecplot and Pointwise
• Some graduate school experience in aerodynamics or fluid mechanics
• Some past experience on an aerodynamics or fluid mechanics project or club

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

• 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. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations.
  
  Because our employees are provided access to export‑controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to…