Intern, R&D Graduate Year Round - Formal Verification

Sandia National Laboratories; California; On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in California is seeking a year-round R&D graduate intern specializing in formal verification and formal methods.

You may contribute to formal systems specification and model based design, formal verification of systems software and hardware designs, and mathematics related to computer science. This internship offers pay rates based on credit hours, classification, and degree level with an offer package.

Qualifications

• Earned bachelor’s degree.
• Currently enrolled full-time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program.
• Minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA.

Responsibilities

• Formal verification of systems software and hardware designs.
• Model-based design and formal systems specification work.
• Engage in collaboration with engineers and researchers on verification tasks.

Skills

Mathematics of CS

Presentation skills

Software debugging

Collaborative work

Formal methods experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate program enrollment

Tools

Coq

Coq-based libraries

CompCert/Clight

VST

Coquelicot

Flocq

Mathematical Components

Job description

We are seeking a year-round R&D graduate intern specializing in formal verification and formal methods.

On any given day, you may contribute to activities in one or more of the following:

Formal Systems Specification and Model Based Design

Formal verification of systems software (compilers and firmware) and hardware designs

Mathematics related to computer science (e.g., Logic, Category Theory, Algebraic Geometry)

Formal verification of floating-point numerical algorithms

Software development and modeling of embedded control systems

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 (https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/51/2024/12/Student-Rate-Sheet-2025.docx) .

Qualifications We Require:

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

U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, asylees or refugees in the U.S.

Qualifications We Desire:

Experience using Rocq (formerly Coq) proof assistant and related libraries ideally including at least one of: Compcert/Clight, VST, Coquelicot, Flocq, Mathematical Components

An understanding of Separation Logic

Strong technical skills, especially demonstrated expertise/skill in Rocq

Experience in at least one of the following programming languages: Haskell, OCaml, Scheme, C, Rocq, Isabelle/HoL, Rust

Experience in formal verification and systems programming

Experience applying formal verification to evaluate numerical integration schemes

Strong mathematical background in discrete mathematics

Experience debugging software and knowledge of software engineering design principles

Applicants must be comfortable working in a collaborative environment as part of a team of engineers and researchers

Excellent oral and written presentation skills

The ideal candidate will have an interest in or experience with conducting self-driven research

Experience with formal methods workflows which leverage AI while retaining soundness

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:

The Cyber Systems Hardening department (8747) works in tandem with other departments within the Cyber and Digital Assurance group (8740) to discover credible cyber risk in mission systems and innovate solutions to harden these systems from cyber threat. Our teams support hardware-based acceleration and emulation of system-on-chip architectures as well as threat-informed technical evaluations for stockpile, modernization, and national security programs. We create orchestration platforms for effective risk discovery and formal workflows for rigorous verification of cyber requirements. The department stewards cyber-experimentation hardware and capabilities along with civilian and mission-focused cyber demonstrations. Our research includes formal and experimental methodologies for validating hardware protections that support ongoing missions; and novel computing architectures that harness innovations and expertise from multiple centers to enable future missions. We engage with researchers as adopters, integrators, and innovators to sustain our technical edge for Nuclear Deterrence and broader national security initiatives.

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.

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:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

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.

• Close proximity to first-tier universities, Silicon Valley companies, and other top research laboratories and facilities
• Access to California’s finest public and private schools
• At Sandia, recruiters manually review resumes on each job posting instead of using a resume screening software program
• By following the best practices outlined, this ensures that recruiters can accurately determine your qualifications for the position