{"id":1605559,"url":"https://alion.io/job/spacenexus-thermal-engineering-internship-summer-2027","title":"Thermal Engineering Internship - Summer 2027","company":{"id":2086894,"name":"SpaceNexus","domain":"spacenexus.us","url":"https://alion.io/company/spacenexus","size_band":"1-10","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Schema","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":100,"open_postings":4,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":13,"computed_at":"2026-10-21T05:46:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"intern","employment_type":"internship","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["El Segundo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":33,"max":null,"currency":"USD","period":"hour","gross":null,"usd_annual":66000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"AutoCAD","optional":false},{"name":"MATLAB","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-01T05:54:46Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-01","last_verified_at":"2026-10-21T05:10:22Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":20,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":20},"description":"About Varda\nLow 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.\nFrom 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.\nOur 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.\nVarda 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.\nJoin Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.\nAbout This Role\nSpring 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.\nAs 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.\nInternships 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.\nResponsibilities\nSupport thermal vacuum (TVAC) test campaigns including setup, execution, and data collection\nContribute to thermal models for spacecraft components and systems using tools like Thermal Desktop and ANSYS\nAnalyze flight and ground test thermal data using Python and MATLAB\nDesign, procure, test, and validate thermal hardware (e.g., MLI blankets, heat straps, thermal interfaces)\nSupport integration and test (I&T) activities related to thermal components and subsystems\nCollaborate with systems and mechanical teams to ensure thermal requirements are met\nBasic Qualifications\nCurrently pursuing a degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline\nCompleted coursework in:\nHeat Transfer\nThermodynamics\nFluid Mechanics\nData processing\nExperience or coursework using thermal analysis software (e.g., Thermal Desktop, Ansys, Star CCM)\nProficiency in CAD tools (NX, AutoCAD, PTC, or similar)\nComfortable with data analysis in MATLAB and Python\nPrior thermal internship, lab, project team, or rigorous school project experience relevant to heat transfer/thermal\nPreferred Skills And Experience\nPrior thermal internship experience in aerospace\nHardware procurement, build, and testing experience\nFamiliarity with spacecraft testing environments or aerospace systems\nExperience working on a student design or competition team (e.g., rocketry, CubeSat, Formula SAE)\nLeadership experience (demonstrated communication, organization, problem solving)\nCompensation\nHourly Rate : $33.00\nHousing stipend for interns relocating to the area\nCommuter benefit to support local transportation\nBenefits\nConsider 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.\nRegular Full-Time Positions:\nHealth & Wellness\nFlexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays\n100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options\nVoluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance\n$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses\n12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)\nFamily building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic\nSponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents\nFinancial & Retirement\nSubstantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up\n401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)\n$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement\nRelocation support for new hires, if needed\nWorkplace Experience & Perks\nFully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly\nCompany and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations\nComplimentary EV charging\nIntern Positions:\nHealth & Wellness\nPaid observed holidays\n100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options\n$120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses\nSponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents\nFinancial\n$20/pay period cell phone reimbursement\nUp to $4,000 gross up in relocation support, if eligible\nUp to $850 commute credit through Lyft or car rental reimbursement, if eligible\nWorkplace Experience & Perks\nFully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly\nCompany and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations\nComplimentary EV charging\nITAR Requirements\nVarda, 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.\n“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).\nE-Verify Statement\nVarda 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.\nE-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice\nRead more Read more\nVarda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. 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