Guidance, Navigation & Controls (GNC) Internship - Summer 2026

Summary: Varda Space Industries is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, including in-orbit pharmaceutical processing and reentry capsules. The GNC Internship involves supporting the design, analysis, and operational performance of reentry vehicles, contributing to critical projects in a collaborative startup environment. Responsibilities: - As part of the GNC team, own or contribute to analysis, algorithms and simulations for reentry vehicles - Own Integration and testing of GNC sensors, actuators and software in simulation and hardware in the loop environments - Design and implement mission critical tooling needed to facilitate automated maneuver responsibility and scheduling decisions - Design and implementation of autonomous satellite attitude control, collision avoidance, orbital rendezvous, burn planning and atmospheric re-entry algorithms - Perform trajectory design, optimization, and dispersion analysis for the reentry of a space capsule Required Qualifications: - Previous GNC internship - Familiar with orbital mechanics, flight dynamics, trajectory design and optimization, feedback controls, 6DOF flight simulations, navigation solutions, guidance navigation and controls flight algorithms, monte carlo analysis - Familiarity with C++ or python and modern software development principles - Must be a U.S. person as defined by U.S. export regulations Preferred Qualifications: - At least one year of experience on a technical project team (e.g., CubeSat, Rocket Team, AIAA Design-Build-Fly, Formula SAE) - Previous experience working on simulation support tools or GNC tooling for aerospace vehicles - Familiarity with Monte Carlo analysis, navigation filters, sensor/actuator integration, or HIL simulation environments - Experience with tools like GMAT, POST2, MATLAB/Simulink, or custom orbital simulation frameworks - Strong communication and documentation skills Required Skills: GNC algorithms, trajectory optimization, 6DOF simulations Important Skills: C++, Python, Monte Carlo analysis Nice-to-Have Skills: communication, documentation skills Internship Start Date: Start in 2026 Summer Benefits: Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side, Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded), 401(k) matching (interns excluded), Unlimited PTO (interns excluded), Health insurance, including Vision and Dental, Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week., Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded)