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What Your Job Will Be Like:
We are looking for an Intern - Mechanical Engineering, R&D Undergrad Summer
Who We Are
The mission is why you come, the people is why you stay.
At Sandia National Laboratories, the magnitude of our mission is immense. As an intern in Center 8400, your contributions will directly impact national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of America’s nuclear stockpile. This stockpile underpins the foundation of our national deterrence strategy and enables our nation’s diplomacy around the world. We work in amazing interdisciplinary teams, ready to attack the next big engineering challenge thrown our way and are always on the lookout for the next great creative-tinkerer or innovative-designer that we can help grow into experts and leaders within the inclusive, family-like culture we’ve built. Our work spans early research innovation but also challenges all engineering disciplines to create manufacturable capabilities that bring life to concepts. Our teams span the entire innovation lifecycle.
With a wide array of on-going projects and new projects on the horizon, opportunity abounds to hone your current skills and grow new skills; and because of the diverse reach of our center you get to learn and see the big picture down to smallest components across the weapon lifecycle. If you believe you’re up for the challenge and can excel in our team-focused, mission-critical nuclear weapon projects, we’d love to meet you!
What We Do
The Center 8400 Intern Institute is designed to provide direct support to the many facets of the Nuclear Weapon Stockpile System and Component Engineering center. In this diverse center, we ensure the safety, security, and reliability of our nation’s nuclear weapon stockpile while developing new component products that continually improve our mission capabilities. We experience the entire engineering lifecycle including concept development, prototyping and design, fabrication, testing, production maintenance, and disposal.
What We Need
We are looking to hire Mechanical Engineering rising Junior and Senior students for our internship program. Interns will be paired with mentors and assigned individual or small team projects based on skills and interest. Mechanical engineering projects mainly involve designing hardware using CREO and participating in mechanical testing and analysis. These projects are of high value to our on-going programs, and we are looking for students who can jump in quickly, who are willing to learn new things and push their own boundaries, and who can own responsibility for their work. Interns will be expected to communicate frequently with their project sponsors and provide an end of summer briefing on progress and accomplishments to our engineering community.
What You’ll Do
Projects are tailored to individuals, but in the past our interns have engaged in…
Designing test fixtures for shock and vibration or centrifuge testing of electronic HW.
Designing shipping and handling containers for high value assets.
Creating test plans and executing tests in environmental facilities
Reviewing and analyzing test data
Hands-on building of HW assemblies
Rapid prototyping (3D printing) of parts and test fixtures
Trajectory analysis for warhead re-entry
Thermal studies of electromechanical designs
You’ll be able to work with your mentor and engineering team to determine which summer projects best meet your needs. You will also have access to state of the art facilities and tools in pursuit of engineering excellence.
Qualifications We Require:
You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:
Currently attending and enrolled full time in the spring term immediately preceding the internship (or scheduled to graduate in the spring) 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 40 hours per week during the summer
U.S. citizenship
Note: If you have not yet started your undergraduate program, please apply to a high school intern position.
Qualifications We Desire:
You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:
Currently attending and enrolled full time (or scheduled to graduate in the spring) in an accredited undergraduate program
Entering 3rd year of studies or later
Pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering
Additional Desired Skills include:
Experience with Mechanical CAD tools such as CREO or Solidworks
Experience with machine shop operation and design for manufacturability
Success in an interdisciplinary team environment
MATLAB and/or Python programming experience
Knowledge of and experience with scientific and engineering methods
Knowledge of and experience with designing, planning, and executing projects with low technology readiness levels
Interest in multidisciplinary work and ability to team across disciplines
Good verbal and written communication skills
Posting Duration:
This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
About Our Team:
Sandia California's Telemetry and Stockpile Support Department develops and maintains telemetry systems in support of the nuclear deterrence surveillance mission. Telemetry systems has responsibility for all aspects of telemetry development, including conceptual design, prototype development and testing, and transitioning production work to DOE production agencies. Telemetry systems integrate precision sensor electronics and signal conditioning with RF communication systems to support flight testing of Joint Test Assemblies. Work is performed by teams of electrical engineers and mechanical engineers, in partnership with quality engineering, reliability engineering, and project management. Current development mission assignments include the W88 ALT370 JTA8 project and the W76 JTA3 project. Stockpile support oversees the quality, reliability, and availability of all qualified telemetry systems that are being used in the on-going surveillance mission.
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 vacations, 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: 691525
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Benefits

- Worklife Balance
- Flexible Work Schedules
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Exceptional 401K Savings Plan
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- Wellness Programs
- On-site Amenities
- Vacation Buy Plan
- Telecommuting Arrangements*
*with management approval
Life in California
- Close proximity to first-tier universities, Silicon Valley companies, and other top research laboratories and facilitiesM
- Access to California’s finest public and private schoolsM
- VineyardsM
- BeachesM
- State ParksM
- Sports – Nearby major league franchisesM
- Art havenM
- Proximity to SF Bay AreaM
Learn more about Life in Livermore, California