Intern, RD Graduate Summer - Nonlinear Mechanics and Dynamics (NOMAD), Onsite

NCSL International; Albuquerque, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandia National Laboratories invites motivated student interns to join the NOMAD Research Institute for an 8-week summer program. Interns collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, contribute to ongoing research projects, and present their findings at a final seminar.

You should be enrolled in a relevant science or engineering program, pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher, with a GPA of 3.0 or above, and be able to work 40 hours per week. U.S. citizenship is required for security clearance.

Qualifications

• Earned bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• Currently enrolled full time in spring term or scheduled to graduate in spring in a relevant STEM graduate program.
• Minimum GPA 3.0/4.0.
• Able to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer.
• U.S. citizenship required to obtain/maintain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to multiple summer research projects within NOMAD.
• Work in diverse research teams with mentors.
• Present a final project seminar summarizing findings.
• Engage with professionals in the field and network within the institute.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Scientific communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

PhD or Master's in mechanical/aerospace/engineering (desired)

Tools

Finite element analysis

Experimental methods

Signal processing

Model validation & calibration

Numerical methods

Measurement systems

Job description

What Your Job Will Be Like

The Nonlinear Mechanics and Dynamics (NOMAD) Research Institute is an 8-week long program that brings together researchers from around the world to work on challenging research problems in engineering sciences. The Component Science and Mechanics Department is seeking motivated and productive student interns to contribute to a number of summer research projects. The internship will provide you with opportunities to work in diverse research teams, to participate in a research project that will be presented at a final seminar series, and to engage/network with professionals working within their research fields. The teams generally consist of 3 interns and 3-5 mentors per project team.

Past summer projects from 2026 include:

• Breaking Bats: Designing a Collapsable Baseball Bat Using Topology Optimization
• Chaotic Vibration Response of Nonlinear Components under Forced Vibration
• Implementing Multi-Input-Multi-Output Shock Capabilities
• Predicting Printability of Particle-laden Inks
• Multiscale Modeling of the Mechanical Response of Tantalum Alloys
• Experimental Characterization of Gas Transport in a Vibrated Multiphase System

Visit our website for more details related to past projects: http://www.sandia.gov/careers/students_postdocs/internships/institutes/nomad.html

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

• You must be working towards a Ph.D. or master's degree in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, aerospace engineering, materials science, engineering mechanics, applied mathematics or other applicable branches of science or engineering
• You are available to participate in the Institute for 8 weeks from June 14, 2027 to August 6, 2027
• Experience (or academic focus) in topics in structural dynamics, such as mechanical vibrations and modal analysis, and/or solid mechanics, such as failure analysis and contact mechanics
• Experience with finite element analysis, experimental methods, signal processing, model validation and calibration, numerical methods, and measurement systems
• Graduate research that aligns with state-of-the-art research in nonlinear mechanics or dynamics
• You should be able to work independently, with the ability to integrate effectively into a dynamic multidisciplinary teaming environment
• You should demonstrate strong interpersonal, organization, and communication skills (both oral and written)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.7/4.0 is desired

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 Component Science and Mechanics Department conducts frontier mechanics research and science-based engineering solutions for component development and assessment. Focus areas for the department include interfacial and micro/nano-mechanics, probabilistic mechanics and uncertainty quantification, and mechanical aspects of component and subsystem reliability. Areas of active interest include: interconnects and encapsulation, fatigue and fracture, energy dissipation at contacts, micro-structural mechanics, shock and vibration, crack initiation and propagation, micro-scale diagnostics, and adaptive structures. Computational and physical simulations, including solid mechanics and structural dynamics for both linear and non-linear systems, are utilized in a dynamic multidisciplinary teaming environment.

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 L-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 the 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.