What Your Job Will Be Like:
We are seeking a passionate and motivated graduate intern to conduct state-of-the-art research on high-throughput characterization and testing of materials. You will be part of a vibrant team of researchers focused on developing creative advanced materials characterization solutions through inter-disciplinary research that couples materials science, high-throughput materials testing and characterization, and data science. Through interactive collaboration with other inter-disciplinary research groups within Sandia, you will support a wide variety of research opportunities and mission related projects related to artificial intelligence guided manufacturing of advanced materials.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Plan and perform experiments, install, repair, and maintain diagnostic tools, collect and analyze data with the goal of understanding how process parameters affect microstructure, mechanical and tribological properties, and performance of tribological systems.
- Perform materials characterization including instrumented indentation (nanoindentation), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and micro/macro-scale scratch testing in controlled environments; experimental work may include operation of inert gas purged glove boxes, ultra-high vacuum chambers, cryogenic cooling and high-temperature (up to 800 °C) chambers, a four-wire electrical contact tool, and scanning white light interferometers and stylus profilometers.
- Contribute to the curation and organization of large data sets for widespread dissemination in accordance to FAIR data practices.
- Publish professional journal articles and present work at local and national conferences.
- Interact and collaborate with other inter-disciplinary research groups within Sandia to develop new research opportunities and projects.
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:
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:
- Have, or are pursuing, a PhD in materials science, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field
- Possess a bachelor's in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
- Experience with materials characterization including electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and X-ray diffraction to characterize thin films and surface microstructures.
- Experience with high-throughput materials testing including instrumented indentation (nanoindentation), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and micro/macro-scale scratch testing in controlled environments to characterize thin film mechanical and tribological properties.
- History of publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific and/or technical conferences (a list of publications should be included in the CV).
- Experience with process research and development. Experience with thin film deposition techniques (i.e., magnetron sputter deposition, electroplating, etc.).
- Experience with microstructural, mechanical property, and film stress characterization.
- Experience or knowledge of machine learning or artificial intelligence applications in the organization or analysis of large data sets.
- Experience with programming for data analysis using Matlab, Python, LabVIEW, and Origin.
- Experience with electromechanical devices like micro/nano-positioners and force sensors.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE security 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 mission of the Materials Mechanics and Tribology department is to develop fundamental understanding of mechanical behavior of materials and to operationalize this understanding to resolve the engineering challenges facing Sandia's national security missions. The department has solved materials problems in Nuclear Deterrence (ND) applications ranging from routine material compatibility concerns to manufacturing scale issues. In addition to ND, the department also has a strong record of applying its resources to develop solutions for many unique challenges including; hardening drill bits, lubricating satellite mechanisms, coating hypersonic rails, and even measuring the elasticity of eye corneas.
To address these and other unique challenges, the department is also heavily active in developing novel and emerging processing and characterization techniques. Current activities include the development of high-throughput and in-situ methods for mechanically testing additively-manufactured (AM) metals and tribological coatings, highly customized tribological testing, digital image correlation, failure and deformation under complex loading, stress mapping using photo-luminescence and Raman spectroscopy, tribology of nanocrystalline materials, ductile and brittle fracture mechanisms, and 3D characterization of microstructure and components with destructive serial sectioning and x-ray computed tomography. The department members collaborate heavily across organizations within Sandia in New Mexico and California and have managed several multi-million-dollar programs. As a testament to their effectiveness, in 2015 and 2016, staff within the department were awarded a national Asian Engineer of the Year Award, a national Black Engineer of the Year Award, a Hispanic National Achievement Award, and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). The department's technologists, postdocs, and staff have also been awarded several patents and intellectual property provisions.
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: 699575
Job Family: 91
Regular/Temporary Position: T
Full/Part-Time Status: P
