Intern, R&D Graduate Year-Round - Photonic & Phononic Microsystems, Onsite

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineering Graduate R&D Intern to support research projects on novel sensors and communication devices for aerospace vehicles and mobile systems.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Custom design and build mechanical tools, prototypes, or test fixtures to support experiments to characterize piezoelectric and magnetostrictive actuators
• Demonstrate novel mechanical based sensing/navigation systems, communication links, and/or power transmission systems
• Characterize prototype devices and systems
• Analyze and process data, and document results (in reports, papers, or presentations)

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

At Sandia, we value the important work done by our interns and its contribution to National Security. Because of this, our interns earn competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your pay rate will be determined during the hire process and included in your offer package. You can view the Intern Pay Rate chart here (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).).

• Earned bachelor’s degree
• Currently attending and enrolled full‑time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
• Ability to work up to 30 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during the summer
• Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship

• Graduate student currently studying in mechanical engineering, physics or a related engineering/science field
• Knowledge in mechanical engineering principles and CAD design
• Experience in creating CAD drawings with 2-D and 3-D CAD software
• Experience with mechanical system and component assembly, design, and manufacturing (such as metal machining and 3D printing)
• Experience in basic electrical circuits and measurement tools and circuit simulation tools
• Experience with computing programming languages and simulation software (ex. C, Python, Matlab)
• Basic knowledge in communication protocols and signal processing
• Experience operating in a research laboratory environment with basic knowledge of laboratory safety and test equipment operation
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently to solve challenging problems
• Strong writing and communication skills (for reporting technical results in meetings)

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre‑employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q‑level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matters if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug‑releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to…