Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Internship – Summer 2027

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

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) ensures all operations at Varda are performed safely and effectively, without harming the environment. The EHS team is responsible for proactively identifying and mitigating physical, chemical, operational, and other hazards across Varda’s spacecraft and pharmaceutical development and production processes.

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

• Lead Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) across engineering, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical operations to identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and collaborate with teams to implement effective controls.

• Drive safe handling of hazardous chemicals through the Hazard Communication (HazCom) and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) programs

• Maintain environmental compliance by guiding departments in the proper accumulation and disposal of hazardous waste

• Conduct regular maintenance and inspection of safety systems and equipment (e.g., emergency eyewashes and showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarm and suppression systems)
• Assist with emergency preparedness and response procedures (e.g., site emergency action plan, emergency drills, first aid/CPR/AED training)

Basic Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a degree in occupational safety & health, environmental engineering/safety, or related field

• Strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently, in a fast-paced work environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with local, state, and federal regulatory EHS standards (e.g., Cal/OSHA, Cal/EPA, RCRA, SCAQMD, DOT, CA Fire Code)

• Hands-on experience with conducting risk assessments and implementing safety control measures
• Prior EHS-related internship or project experience in an engineering or laboratory setting

Additional Details and Compensation

• • This is a full-time on-site role based in El Segundo, CA

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. 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).

Read more Read more