Intern, R&D Graduate Year Round - Photovoltaics & Materials Tech, Hybrid

Sandia National Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Onsite/Remote options

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico seeks a graduate-level intern to help with PV performance modeling, data analysis, and analytics. You will develop and evaluate models and methods to understand and improve PV system performance.

On a typical day you may research algorithms, contribute to open-source libraries, develop unit tests with CI, prepare publication-ready datasets, and prepare scientific publications.

Qualifications

• Earned bachelor's degree.
• Currently attending and enrolled full time in a graduate program in science, engineering, or math.
• Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0.
• Ability to work up to 30 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours in summer.
• U.S. citizens, permanent residents, asylees or refugees in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Research algorithms for PV performance and data analysis.
• Develop and contribute to open-source libraries for modeling PV systems.
• Create unit tests using CI services and document software.
• Prepare datasets for publication with quality assessments.
• Draft scientific publications and presentations.

Skills

Python

Numerical modeling

Data analysis

Open-source development

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Git

CI/CD

Job description

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a graduate level student intern to assist in research related to PV performance modeling, data analysis, and analytics. The successful candidate will support in the development and evaluation of models and analytical methods for understanding and improving PV system performance. Research applications may include terrestrial PV, performance modeling, analysis of measured PV and environmental data, model validation and benchmarking, uncertainty analysis, performance metrics, and operational analytics. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in numerical modeling, data analysis, and experience with open-source software development.

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

• Research algorithms for predicting the performance of solar power systems, or for analysis of renewable energy system data
• Develop and contribute to open-source software libraries for modeling and analysis of renewable energy systems
• Develop unit tests using continuous integration services and prepare software documentation
• Prepare and document datasets for publication, including quality assessments and validation
• Prepare scientific publications and presentations

The selected applicant can work a combination of onsite and offsite work. The selected applicant must live within a reasonable distance for commuting to the assigned work location when necessary.

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 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

• Strong programming and scientific computing skills, preferably in Python.
• Experience in one or more relevant areas, such as PV, energy systems, computational modeling, data science, artificial intelligence, time-series analysis, or O&M analytics.
• Ability to communicate research through publications, presentations, or other technical outputs.
• Demonstrated ability and motivation to learn new technical areas and work effectively in collaborative research environments.

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 Photovoltaics and Materials Technology (PMT) department develops and validates materials and technologies that improve the performance, reliability, and safety of photovoltaic systems for energy and national security applications. Sandia focuses on emerging PV technologies and collaborates with dozens of companies and universities to develop and test new module architectures, tracking systems, integrated power electronics, encapsulants, and specialized coatings. We also develop materials, such as thermally stable polymers, electrodes, and electrolytes for advanced batteries and other applications. Our team applies HPC modeling and advanced indoor and outdoor testing capabilities to evaluate and predict system performance, degradation, and failure mechanisms.

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

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.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

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.