Intern, R&D Graduate Summer - MissionTech-SIGMA, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories offers a summer internship through the MissionTech SIGMA program in Albuquerque, NM. Graduate students across engineering and physical sciences will work on microsystems projects under expert mentorship, contributing to national security objectives.

You will gain hands-on experience across electronics, sensors, MEMS, and quantum components, with seminars and tours enhancing your learning and career development.

Qualifications

• Earned bachelor’s degree in a science, engineering, or math field.
• Currently enrolled full-time in the spring term immediately preceding the internship (or scheduled to graduate in the spring).
• Minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Willing to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer and obtain US citizenship for clearance.

Responsibilities

• Engage with MissionTech/SIGMA teams on microsystems projects.
• Collaborate with scientists and engineers across disciplines.
• Attend technical seminars and facility tours.
• Work on systems including sensors, MEMS, photonics, and quantum components.

Skills

Python

MATLAB

LabVIEW

AI testing

Data analysis

LEAN Six Sigma

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Details

• Location: Albuquerque, NM
• Full/Part Time: Part-Time
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary

What Your Job Will Be Like

Ready to join the Sandia mission and work on real-world projects with national security impact?

MissionTech's Student Intern Group for Microelectronics Advancement (SIGMA), is seeking motivated chemical engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, electronics engineering, material science, mechanical engineering, optical science & engineering, and physics graduate students to join us for a summer internship. Join us to develop systems, science, and technology to meet national security objectives. In keeping with our vision to be the nation's premier science and engineering laboratory for national security and technology innovation, we recruit the best and the brightest, equip them with world‑class research tools and facilities, and provide opportunities to collaborate with technical experts.

Based in Sandia's Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (MESA) center, the students in MissionTech's SIGMA program will engage with multiple scientific disciplines to produce functional, robust, integrated microsystems. Our scientists, engineers, and researchers pursue advanced concepts that integrate not only electronics at the micro scale, but embody sensors, photonics, Micro‑Electrical‑Mechanical Systems (MEMS), and quantum components.

Students are offered hands‑on, flexible, challenging, interesting, and cutting‑edge research opportunities while being mentored by Sandia National Laboratories scientists and engineers. These direct experiences are supplemented with technical seminars and facility tours to expose students to the broad range of engineering and scientific disciplines represented at Sandia. You will experience:

• Valuable exposure to technical and national security challenges.
• Unique hands‑on environment offering cutting edge projects with real life applications.
• Development of valuable skills while collaborating with other students under the high‑caliber technical mentorship of the professional MESA community.
• Preparation and guidance toward a rewarding career path shaped by your unique interests and talents.

Gateway to personal and professional network development, making connections and building relationships with leaders involved in national‑level conversations across many disciplines.

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

Salary Range

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.

Qualifications We Require

You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:

• Earned bachelor's degree
• Currently attending and enrolled full time in the spring term immediately preceding the internship (or scheduled to graduate in the spring) in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
• Ability to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer
• Ability to secure and maintatin a U.S. security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship

Note: If you have not yet started your graduate program, please apply to an undergraduate intern position.

Qualifications We Desire

• Strong interest in supporting national security and U.S. government missions.
• Excellent ability to communicate clearly and effectively.
• Proven ability to collaborate and interact well within a technical team environment.
• Interest and experience in one or more of the following microelectronic areas: fabrication, device physics, electrical testing, radiation effects and testing, noise measurements, material characterization, digital circuit design, analog mixed signal and digital design, optical characterization, radio frequency (RF) design/testing, printed circuit board (PCB) design/layout, and defect analysis.
• Proficiency in data analysis and programming using: Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, Statistical Process Control (SPC), and AI automated testing.
• Experienced in process optimization utilizing LEAN Six Sigma methodologies.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

About Our Team

MissionTech is an internship program that serves the Nuclear Deterrence and Science (ND&S) mission at Sandia National Laboratories. MissionTech comprises six mission centers: 1) System Modernization, Advanced Systems and Digital Engineering; 2) Design Engineering and Assurance; 3) Component Science, Engineering, and Production; 4) Stockpile Systems; 5) Surety, Design Engineering, and Weapons Quality; and 6) Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (SIGMA). Our projects span multiple disciplines across mission‑critical work and crosscut across all of ND&S; projects include engineering design, product testing, component research and development, remote sensing, data analytics, and more.

MissionTech interns are onboarded as an integrated part of their project teams and work collaboratively with experienced technical staff who are leaders and experts in their fields. All projects are reviewed for substance and impact to ensure that interns have a productive learning experience and are contributing to deliverables with real national security implications.

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting‑edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co‑workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten‑hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part‑time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Security Clearance

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 matter 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.

EEO

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.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

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 comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on‑site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.