Sigma Division Undergraduate Student

Los Alamos National Laboratory; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Relocation packages

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM offers an undergraduate internship in the Sigma Division, exposing you to ceramic processing, materials assessment, casting, machining, and thermomechanical processing across several teams.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate Materials Science program, carry at least 12 credit hours, maintain a 2.75 GPA, and be able to obtain a DOE Q security clearance.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program in a Materials Science discipline (e.g., Materials Science, Metallurgy).
• Must be enrolled in at least 12 semester credit hours (or full-time equivalent) in an accredited degree program.
• Must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale.
• Entering first-year students must provide documentation indicating matriculation into an accredited undergraduate degree program.
• Experience providing support in technical activities including, but not limited to, techniques highlighted in the team descriptions, performing research, analysis, assembly, repair, and maintenance to experimental work and equipment.
• Experience working in a lab setting following all safety and security requirements as required.
• Ability to obtain a DOE "Q" security clearance, which usually requires US citizenship.

Responsibilities

• Support the Ceramic Processing Science Team with materials fabrication and handling in gloveboxes and furnaces.
• Assist Materials Assessment and Compatibility Team in experiments that simulate real-world environments and analyze results.
• Contribute to Foundry & Solidification Science Team work using VIM, VAR, and PAM to cast prototypes.
• Support Machining & Inspection Team with inspection of metals and alloys and documentation of results.
• Assist Thermomechanical Processing Science Team in rolling, forming, and heat-treatment experiments.
• Help Analytical Sciences Team develop and apply analytical methods to characterize samples.
• Support Characterization Team with microstructural analysis and mechanical testing.
• Assist Electrochemistry & Corrosion Team with surface finishing and surface modification tasks.

Skills

Lab safety

Technical support

Team collaboration

Education

Undergraduate in Materials Science

Tools

Gloveboxes

High temp furnaces

VIM

VAR

PAM

Machine shop

Dilatometer

Job description

What You Will Do

Sigma Division is a unique capability at Los Alamos National Laboratory working in both fundamental and applied materials research, materials processing development, and metallurgical applications in support of national security.

• Ceramic Processing Science Team: The team works with both metals and ceramic materials to fabricate components to support many different programs. Much of the work is performed in gloveboxes and high temperature furnaces.
• Materials Assessment and Compatibility Team: The team studies how materials interact with their environment, fielding complex experiments designed to replicate real world conditions and developing predictive science to tell designers how long a system can remain in service. Each problem is distinct and requires novel experimentation, instrumentation, and analysis.
• Foundry & Solidification Science Team: The team utilizes vacuum induction melting (VIM), Vacuum arc remelting (VAR), and plasma arc melting (PAM) as standard tools to cast prototypes from ingots to near net shape cast components. Work typically involved radioactive materials such as depleted uranium and thorium.
• Machining & Inspection Team: The team houses a fully equipped machine shop and inspection lab to machine a wide range of metals and metal alloys (including depleted uranium and uranium alloys), as well as composite materials, plastics, foams, rubber, graphite, and other materials.
• Thermomechanical Processing Science Team: The team utilizes equipment to roll, form and heat treat many different components. Equipment commonly used includes rolling mills, hydraulic presses, heat treatment furnaces, swagers, shears, wire-drawing equipment, and mechanical testing equipment (including dilatometers, hydraulic test frames, hardness testers, impact testers, etc.).
• Analytical Sciences Team: The team utilizes a variety of equipment and techniques to apply diverse analytical techniques in the analysis of metal and powder samples. This work typically involves analyzing routine samples, as well as developing methods and procedures to analyze novel samples.
• Characterization Team: The Characterization Team supports Sigma's fabrication efforts through microstructural analysis (optical microscopy, SEM, TEM), mechanical property testing (tensile, hardness, compression), and compositional/phase analysis (XRD, EDS). This work includes metallography sample prep and quality assurance to confirm that fabricated components meet required specifications for structure, purity, and performance.
• Electrochemistry & Corrosion Team: The electrochemistry team operates a state-of-the-art electro-finishing facility to electroplate, polish, anodize, and modify metallic surfaces across the period table. Activities span from the beaker scale to industrial sized chemical and electrolyte tanks.
• Welding & Joining Team: The team encompasses many types of welding and joining, including electron beam welding, laser welding, laser marking, laser cutting and ablation, manual and semi-automatic arc welding, brazing, and associated processing. The team also supports computational efforts, both internal to the team and in collaboration with other LANL experts, to investigate compensation, residual stresses, material composition, and microstructure development.
• Additive Manufacturing Science: The team oversees a wide variety of solutions to meet research and customer requirements, including metal spray coatings, laser powder bed fusion, electron beam additive manufacturing, ceramic additive manufacturing, and associated processing. Team members often work in multiple disciplines and have the opportunity to learn new methods, as well as develop new techniques.

Candidates may indicate any preference in Team affiliation in their cover letter.

What You Need

Minimum Job Requirements

• Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program in a Materials Science discipline
• Must be enrolled in at least 12 semester credit hours (or full-time equivalent) in an accredited degree program (or international equivalent)
• Must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
• Entering first-year students must provide documentation indicating matriculation into an accredited undergraduate degree program
• Experience providing support in technical activities including, but not limited to, principal techniques highlighted in the Team descriptions, performing research, analysis, assembly, repair, and maintenance to experimental work and equipment
• Experience working in a lab setting following all safety and security requirements as required
• Ability to obtain a DOE "Q" security clearance, which usually requires US citizenship

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with sample preparation (including melting/alloying, sampling, cleaning)
• Research and/or manufacturing experience with demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to safety and security

Essential Job Functions (can perform with or without reasonable accommodation): Lifting 30+ pounds, standing, walking, Domestic/Foreign Travel

Work Location

The work location for this position is onsite and located in Los Alamos, NM. All work locations are at the discretion of management.

Note to Applicants

Due to federal restrictions contained in the current National Defense Authorization Act, citizens of the People's Republic of China-including the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau-as well as citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), and the Russian Federation, who are not Lawful Permanent Residents ("green card" holders) are prohibited from accessing facilities that support the mission, functions, and operations of national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities, which includes Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Where You Will Work

Located in beautiful northern New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security. Our generous benefits package includes:

• PPO or High Deductible medical insurance with the same large nationwide network
• Dental and vision insurance
• Free basic life and disability insurance
• Paid childbirth and parental leave
• Award-winning 401(k) (6% matching plus 3.5% annually)
• Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
• Flexible schedules and time off (PTO and holidays)
• Onsite gyms and wellness programs
• Extensive relocation packages (outside a 50 mile radius)

Additional Details

Directive 206.2 - Employment with Triad requires a favorable decision by NNSA indicating employee is suitable under NNSA Supplemental Directive 206.2. Please note that this requirement applies only to citizens of the United States. Foreign nationals are subject to a similar requirement under DOE Order 142.3A.

Clearance

Q (Position will be cleared to this level). Selected applicants will be subject to a background investigation conducted by or on behalf of the Federal Government, and must meet eligibility requirements* for access to classified matter.

*Eligibility requirements: To obtain a clearance, an individual must be at least 18 years of age; U.S. citizenship is required except in very limited circumstances. See DOE Order 472.2 for additional information.

New-Employment Drug Test

The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new-employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing. Although New Mexico and other states have legalized the use of marijuana, use and possession of marijuana remain illegal under federal law. A positive drug test for marijuana will result in termination of employment, even if the use was pre-offer.

Internal Applicants

Regular appointment employees who have served the required period of continuous service in their current position are eligible to apply for posted jobs throughout the Laboratory. If an employee has not served the required period of continuous service, they may only apply for Laboratory jobs with the documented approval of their Division Leader. Please refer to Policy Policy P701 for applicant eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity

Los Alamos National Laboratory is an equal opportunity employer. All employment practices are based on qualification and merit, without regard to protected categories such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or spousal affiliation, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or citizenship within the limits imposed by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The Laboratory is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request such an accommodation, please send an email to [e-mail] or call (505)-664-6947.