Intern, R&D Graduate Summer

About the Role

Are you interested in developing transformational pulsed power capabilities and learning from elite scientists and engineers advancing science on the world's premier pulsed power facilities? Graduate science and engineering students interested in learning and contributing to cutting-edge research in pulsed power science, engineering, and technology are encouraged to apply for this summer 2027 internship.

Pulsed power compresses energy in both time and space and can produce short electrical pulses with more power than the world's total electrical generation capability. Sandia is a world leader in pulsed power and its applications to study radiation effects, materials properties under extreme conditions, and inertial confinement fusion. Our team is rapidly developing the advanced pulsed power components and subsystems to execute the ZX Initiative, which aims to double the stored energy and delivered power of the world's largest experimental pulsed power facility.

As an intern, you will join the team that will be part of the Science of Extreme Environments Research and Innovation (SEERI). This will include an opportunity to participate in a seminar series on the fundamentals of pulsed power and tours of cutting-edge pulsed power facilities. Our program is highly interdisciplinary and designed for students pursuing degrees in the following majors (in alphabetical order):

• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Physics

Some of the potential areas of research include experiments, modeling and simulation of transformational pulsed power components and systems including:

• High-voltage, high-current switches and associated gas physics
• High-voltage insulators and interfaces, including novel materials to increase breakdown thresholds
• Controlled breakdown of dielectric fluids
• Power flow in magnetically insulated transmission lines
• Surface treatments to delay or minimize parasitic plasma formation during operation of high-power vacuum transmission lines
• Improved spectroscopic and/or laser-based diagnostics of plasma parameters

You will have an opportunity to learn from and work with a diverse group of Sandia staff, technologists, postdocs, and fellow student interns. Sandia National Laboratories, and our team, highly value supporting interns in their professional and academic growth.

Key Responsibilities

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Assemble, operate, and troubleshoot laboratory-scale experiments evaluating pulsed power component performance
• Design apparatuses to couple new diagnostics to pulsed power platforms
• Perform finite element analysis, particle-in-cell, or fluid simulations of high voltage systems, including dielectric breakdown and plasma phenomena
• Assist with data collection and analyze large datasets from pulsed power experiments
• Document your findings in reports, presentations, and/or journal articles

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Requirements & Tech Stack

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
• U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, asylees or refugees in the U.S.

Note: If you have not yet started your graduate program, please apply to an undergraduate intern position.

We Desire:

• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 out of 4.0
• Experience with pulsed power science and technology
• Experience with radiation, electrical and/or high energy density science
• Experience with laboratory equipment, data collection, and analysis
• Experience with modeling and simulation of electromagnetic and/or fluid phenomena
• Knowledge of engineering fundamentals, engineering analysis, and design
• Experience documenting and presenting work in reports, memos, and presentations
• Authorship of one or more peer-reviewed publications

About Our Team

Department 1656, part of the Pulsed Power Science and Technology group (1650), is dedicated to advancing the capabilities of the Z-machine and future high-energy density machines. We lead the development of advanced pulsed power energy storage and switching technologies. Our focus includes pioneering research in advanced Marx technology, new capacitor assessments, and innovative gas switch advancements. By collaborating closely with sister departments in 1650, we aim to rapidly advance the state of the art in pulsed power, executing the ZX Initiative and preparing for the design of next-generation pulsed power machines. We led design of the injector for the cutting-edge Scorpius flash x-ray radiography system and continue overseeing assembly and commissioning. The Injector final assembly and commissioning will occur at the North Las Vegas facility before being installed underground at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS).

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.

Security Clearance: This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance. Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review.