Undergraduate Intern – Mechanical Engineering​/Automation and Controls

Undergraduate Intern – Mechanical Engineering/Automation and Controls

Location: Golden, CO

Type: Intern (Fixed Term) – 20 hrs/week

Support ongoing research and operational activities at the High Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF). Work under guidance of experienced engineering staff to aid laboratory operations, experimental testing, and modernization efforts.

• Assist with extreme environment testing of experimental hardware, setting up and executing thermal tests.
• Support the transition of manual laboratory setups to automated operations, including implementation and testing of closed‑loop PID temperature control systems.
• Configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot DAQ instrumentation using LabVIEW and National Instruments (NI) hardware to monitor furnace sensors.
• Use Solid Works to draft and model custom mounting brackets, sensor fixtures, and structural components for the furnace.
• Assist with script writing and develop basic web‑based monitoring tools using Python, Django, and React to display real‑time data from HFSF instrumentation.

• Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
• Currently enrolled as a full‑time undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Experience with Solid Works.
• Hands‑on experience with LabVIEW and NI DAQ hardware.
• Experience with basic scripting in Python.
• Preferred:
  Certified Solid Works Professional (CSWP) designation.
• Preferred:
  Experience designing and building closed‑loop PID temperature control systems with LabVIEW and NI hardware.
• Preferred:
  Experience developing DAQ systems and hardware testing for extreme environments.
• Preferred:
  Familiarity with full‑stack software development (Python, Django, etc.) for system monitoring or data visualization.

Internship eligible for up to one year, subject to availability and project needs. All interns must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match.
• Paid sick leave where required by law.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law.