Recruiting Operations Internship - Fall 2026El Segundo, California, United StatesAbout VardaLow 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 RoleFall 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.As part of the Recruiting team, you will work on projects aimed at improving the efficiency and scalability of Varda's university recruiting efforts. In this role, you will support fall university recruiting by building contact decks for target schools, preparing and organizing swag for career fairs, and helping coordinate logistics for on-campus events. You will assist in conducting interviews, taking structured notes, tracking recruiting metrics, and scheduling team meetings. This role will also include travel to career fairs and direct support of on-site recruiting activities.Internships at Varda are designed for students looking to grow both professionally and operationally while contributing to high-impact initiatives. You will work closely with a collaborative team in a fast-paced startup environment, gaining exposure to how top talent is identified, engaged, and brought into a cutting-edge aerospace company. We're committed to providing an experience where your contributions directly support Varda's growth and success.ResponsibilitiesSupport University Recruiting: Build and maintain contact decks for target schools and programsCareer Fair Preparation: Organize and manage swag, materials, and logistics for recruiting eventsEvent Support: Travel to and assist with on-campus recruiting and career fairsInterview Coordination: Help schedule interviews, support interview logistics, and take structured notesRecruiting Operations: Assist with scheduling team meetings and coordinating internal communicationMetrics & Reporting: Track and report on key recruiting metrics and pipeline performanceBasic QualificationsPursuing a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or universityPrevious experience with event coordination, administrative support, or operational tasksStrong organizational and problem-solving skillsExcellent verbal and written communication skillsAbility to operate in a fast-paced, detail-oriented environmentPreferred Skills And ExperiencePrevious internship or experience in operations, recruiting, or coordinationExperience with spreadsheets, tracking data, or reporting metricsInterest in space, pharma, or high-growth startupsCompensationHourly Rate: $33.00Housing stipend for interns relocating to the areaCommuter benefit to support local transportationBenefitsVarda 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 & WellnessFlexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA optionsVoluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven ClinicSponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependentsFinancial & RetirementSubstantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)$20/pay period cell phone reimbursementRelocation support for new hires, if neededWorkplace Experience & PerksFully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weeklyCompany and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrationsComplimentary EV chargingITAR RequirementsVarda, 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).E-Verify StatementVarda Space Industries, Inc.
participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice