Business Development SkillBridge Intern ( Summer 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.

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 (coming soon).

Join Varda and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem.

About This Role

Varda supports a diverse range of customersfrom pharmaceutical companies pioneering new therapeutics in microgravity to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied agencies leveraging our reentry vehicles for critical missions. We also partner with private industry research institutions and universities conducting advanced orbital and reentry R&D.

As a Business Development SkillBridge Intern Advanced Concepts you will help identify develop and capture new business opportunities that expand the use of Vardas spacecraft in national security missions. You will take ownership of capture opportunitiesfrom early engagement strategy through proposal developmentworking closely with Vardas engineering and program teams to shape mission concepts that align our novel architecture with DoD requirements and future space mission paradigms.

Your contributions will directly accelerate U.S. capabilities in space and reentryand help ensure Varda remains at the forefront of space innovation.

This is a Intern position located in El Segundo CA or Washington DC.

Responsibilities

• Identify and qualify prospective opportunities and the stakeholders including the US Army US Space Force US Air Force US Navy Special Operations Command Combatant Commands and others including commercial entities that seek space and reentry capability.
• Take full ownership of select solicitations managing the process from the initial approach and proposal development through contract negotiations and closure.
• Collaborate with technical and program management teams to translate customer requirements into feasible mission parameters ensuring alignment with Vardas capabilities and strategic objectives.
• Take ownership on proposals and white papers that include technical scopes pricing models compliance documentation and schedules ensuring submissions meet customer and regulatory standards.
• Analyze DoW customer budget exhibits to understand program schedules funding milestones and procurement strategies.
• Develop relationships with key stakeholdersranging from government customers and academia to private industry leadsand maintain a steady pipeline of opportunities.
• As required represent Varda at conferences networking events and industry forums to engage with commercial space academia and DoW market segments.
• Monitor industry trends regulatory shifts and emerging technologies keeping internal teams informed and adjusting strategies accordingly.

Basic Qualifications

Preferred Skills And Experience

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. 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 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 in the U.S.)

Learn more about the ITAR here.

Benefits

Varda 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. We will never discriminate on the basis of race color gender national origin ethnicity veteran status disability status age sexual orientation gender identity martial status mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

E-Verify Statement

Varda 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-Verifyprogram.

E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice

Read more Read more

Required Experience :

Intern

Key Skills

Microsoft Office,Public Relations,Google Docs,Data Collection,MailChimp,Microsoft Word,Dermal Fillers,Microsoft Powerpoint,Research Experience,Microsoft Excel,Adobe Photoshop,Writing Skills

Employment Type : Intern

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1