Intern, R&D Graduate Year Round - Systems Analysis, Remote

Sandia National Laboratories; Livermore (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking a graduate-level intern to support systems analysis research and development. You will collaborate with experienced staff on projects addressing complex systems, stakeholder dynamics, and strategic conflict phenomena. The role offers remote work across the U.S.

with periodic travel to the assigned location as needed. Typical duties include conducting analyses, designing experiments, building frameworks for multi-domain competition, and contributing to

Qualifications

• Earned bachelor’s degree.
• 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/week during the academic year and up to 40 hours/week in summer.
• Ability to obtain and maintain U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship required.

Responsibilities

• Undertake systematic investigation, analysis, or experimentation to advance knowledge of system phenomena.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to apply subject matter expertise.
• Build and evaluate frameworks describing multi-domain competition and conflict.
• Help design research-grade games.
• Design experiments to answer strategic questions using qualitative or quantitative methods.
• Lead and contribute to technical publications and deliver presentations.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Written and oral communication

Education

Bachelor's degree earned

Graduate program enrollment

Job description

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a year-round, graduate level intern to help with our systems analysis research and development. As part of our analytic staff, you will collaborate with experienced technical staff to advance projects that deepen understanding of complex systems, stakeholder dynamics, and strategic conflict phenomena. This internship offers the opportunity to contribute meaningful analytic work while developing hands‑on expertise with methodological tools used across the national security community.

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

• Undertake systematic investigation, analysis, or experimentation to discover or revise knowledge of system phenomena and discover new approaches to optimizing system performance
• Work with multi-disciplinary teams to incorporate necessary subject matter expertise and domain knowledge for gaining an intimate knowledge of systems (human and/or machine) and their behaviors
• Build and evaluate frameworks that characterize multi-domain competition and conflict
• Help design research‑grade games
• Design experiments to answer strategic questions, including variance and process modeling
• Design analysis using qualitative, semi‑quantitative, or quantitative methods
• Lead and contribute to technical publications and deliver presentations.

The selected applicant can be a remote worker located in any U.S. State or District of Columbia. Regular or periodic travel to your assigned work location may be required.

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
• Ability to secure and maintain 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

• Political Science, International Relations, or STEM discipline
• Strong technical skills, especially demonstrated expertise/skill in conflict analysis
• Experience in at least one of the following methodologies: experimental design, qualitative research, analytic gaming
• Strong background in strategic conflict research
• 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

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

Department 8716, Systems Analysis III, is part of Group 8710 (Systems Analysis & Reliability) in the Computation & Analysis for National Security Center (8700). The group delivers independent, objective analysis that provides leaders with reliable, unbiased insights on engineering and strategy options. We are a multi‑department team supporting customers across multiple mission areas, including nuclear deterrence, science and energy, and global security, as well as providing internal support to Sandia. By applying advanced tools and methodologies, we combine technical expertise, cross‑domain knowledge, and multiple analytic disciplines to help leaders make informed, risk‑aware decisions.

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.

Job ID: 698929

Job Family: 91

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: P