Intern, R&D Graduate Summer
Sandia National Laboratories
About Our Team
The Advanced Radio Frequency and Electronic Systems Group specializes in technologies enabling RF signal communication in challenging environments. This includes miniature transponders, specialized software-defined radios, and advanced signal processing techniques to solve military and intelligence requirements based on emerging threats. Design expertise includes microwave circuits, RF systems, digital FPGAs, embedded software, microcontrollers, low profile mechanical assemblies, custom antennas, and high-performance computing platforms for signal processing.
About the Role
The Advanced Radio Frequency and Electronic Systems Group is seeking a summer engineer intern whose study, interest, and experience include RF circuit design, antenna design, mechanical design, waveform design, and software development for research, development, and testing of advanced digital communications signaling devices.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development of advanced RF systems across a diverse frequency range (VHF-EHF) for real-world technology applications
- Utilize advanced commercial technology, tools, design, and testing practices to improve development processes and designs of RF systems
- Contribute to design of RF circuits and antennas
- Contribute to design of mechanical assemblies for electronic systems
- Contribute to design of RF communication signaling protocols and waveforms
- Contribute to software development for software-defined RF systems
- Contribute to laboratory testing of RF systems
- Contribute to field testing of RF systems
Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.
Requirements & Tech Stack
- 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 maintain 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
- Desired Graduate Studies Programs: Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
- Interest and experience doing engineering work: circuit design, antenna design, software development, digital signal processing analysis, or mechanical design
- Experience with laboratory and field testing of RF systems
- Experience with embedded software development or FPGA design
- Experience in designing miniaturized RF electronics, RF frequency filters, and understanding of low signal-to-noise environments
- Experience in high-gain antenna array design
- Experience in use of RF related test and measurement equipment such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and RF power meters as well as standard electronics test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes and DVMs
- Experience in designing mechanical assemblies for electronic systems including enclosures, heat dissipation, connectors, and user interface components