Intern, R&D Undergraduate Year-Round - Precision Discovery and Retrieval, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories; New Mexico; On-site; USD 24,796 - 38,572; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories invites applications for an Intern in the Precision Discovery and Retrieval department. The role focuses on applied AI research and development, with a strong project-based experience working directly with Sandia staff scientists.

Applicants must work onsite in New Mexico and engage in collaborative research activities. Ideal candidates are pursuing a science, engineering, or math degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, capable of handling 25 hours weekly during the academic

Qualifications

• Enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate program.
• Pursuing a science, engineering, or math major.
• Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0.
• Able to work up to 25 hours/week during term and up to 40 hours/week in summer.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a U.S. DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Participate in applied AI research and development with Sandia staff scientists.
• Contribute to project-based work in a highly collaborative research environment.
• Present results through oral and written communication, and demonstrate software.

Skills

Python

Git workflows

AI methods

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Undergraduate STEM degree

Tools

Git

Job description

Intern, R&D Undergraduate Year-Round - Precision Discovery and Retrieval, Onsite

The Precision Discovery and Retrieval department at Sandia National Laboratories invites applications for a student intern to participate in applied Artificial Intelligence research and development. This internship is for a motivated and enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills and who desires to gain experience in a highly collaborative research environment. The successful applicant will be exposed to a wide range of Artificial Intelligence research and applications at Sandia and will have a strong project-based experience working directly with Sandia staff scientists.

What You Can Gain

Resume-building direct research and development experience with a Sandia staff member

Exposure to Sandia R&D activities through group meetings, seminars, and interactions with other department staff

Networking with world-class scientists and engineers

Opportunities to author and publish technical articles with Sandia staff members

Poster presentation and/or software demonstration experience

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

Qualifications We Require

Currently attending and enrolled full time in an accredited undergraduate program

Pursuing a science, engineering, or math major

Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0

Ability to work up to 25 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 earned a HS diploma or equivalent, please apply to a high school intern position.

Qualifications We Desire

Pursuing a Computer Science or Applied Computing degree

Ability to work in collaborative and interdisciplinary team-focused environments

Ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them in oral and written form to audiences with diverse technical backgrounds

Dedication to encouraging an inclusive culture

Programming experience in a language such as Python

Familiarity with Git workflows

Familiarity and experience with AI methods, such as Generative AI or machine learning

Ability to acquire and maintain a Q clearance

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 Precision Discovery and Retrieval department conducts cutting-edge research and development in machine learning and artificial intelligence for national security applications. Our mission is to research, develop, and deploy methods that augment large language models to extract and synthesize high‑fidelity information from complex data sources. We focus on high‑precision retrieval architectures, insight extraction, and analysis of scientific and engineering documents to drive design and discovery. We collaborate with Sandia staff, government customers, universities, and industry. Members of the department publish peer‑reviewed literature, participate in professional societies, and referee for conferences and journals.

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 benefits: 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; generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*.

*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 matters 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.

• Affordable housing, reasonable cost of living
• Minimal traffic congestion compared to larger cities
• 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