Engineering Graduate Student Intern – Solar Thermal Technologies

Job Description

Job Title: Engineering Graduate Student Intern – Solar Thermal Technologies

We are seeking enthusiastic and talented engineering graduate students to join our Solar Thermal Technologies Department. You will play a crucial role in assisting our R&D staff with cutting-edge advancements in solar thermal energy, contributing to national security through technology innovation.

What Your Job Will Be Like

As an intern in the Solar Thermal Technologies Department, you will support our R&D staff with a variety of critical tasks focused on advancing solar thermal technologies at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). Your work will directly contribute to technology advancements, performance improvements, and strategic analyses.

Key areas of support will include:

• Technology Advancements: Contributing to the development and enhancement of solar thermal technologies.
• Performance Improvements: Identifying and implementing strategies to optimize system efficiency and output.
• Test Design and Data Collection: Assisting in the design of experimental setups and the collection of valuable research data.
• Modeling Studies: Participating in the development and application of computational models for solar thermal systems.
• Technoeconomic Analyses: Helping to evaluate the technical feasibility and economic viability of new technologies.

Your work will support a diverse range of projects, including:

• Supercritical CO2 systems
• Particle-based concentrating solar technologies
• Thermal energy storage components and their integration into various applications
• Molten salt projects
• Solar thermal chemistry

Specific tasks may involve:

• Heat transfer and thermodynamic analysis
• Thermal analysis of high-temperature falling particles
• Load analysis
• System control software design
• Synthetic chemistry
• Materials characterization

A strong understanding and adherence to applicable Sandia National Laboratories ES&H (Environmental, Safety, and Health) requirements and guidelines will be paramount for these positions.

On Any Given Day, You May Be Asked To

• Conduct R&D activities or projects under the leadership of senior staff. These activities will often require working collaboratively in teams, which may include partners from other institutions.
• Assist in the development of proposals to seek funding from sponsors and customers for new or ongoing R&D projects in Concentrating Solar Power (CSP).
• Assist in the analysis of data and contribute to the written dissemination of R&D outcomes.
• Potentially represent Sandia and the department in national or international conferences and publications.

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

Salary Range

At Sandia, we recognize the significant contributions of our interns to National Security and offer competitive pay rates. Your compensation will be determined based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level, and will be communicated in your official offer package. For more details, you can view the Intern Pay Rate chart here.

Qualifications We Require

To be eligible for this position, you must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Earned bachelor’s degree.
• Currently attending and enrolled full-time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Ability to work up to 30 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during the summer.
• U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, asylees, or refugees in the U.S.

Qualifications We Desire

Candidates with the following qualifications will be highly competitive:

• Pursuing a graduate degree in one of the following areas: mechanical engineering, systems engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, chemical engineering, computer science, or materials science.
• Some familiarity with Concentrating Solar Thermal technology and alternative energy concepts.
• Hands-on experience working with pressure systems, interpreting flow diagrams, and assembling laboratory test stands for projects related to sCO2 heat exchangers.
• Hands-on chemical laboratory experience, particularly for Solar Thermal Chemical projects.
• Experience with mechanical and electronic systems.
• Demonstrated experience using MS Office suite and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience using LabView or any other Data Acquisition (DAQ)/control software.
• Proficiency in coding with Python.
• Experience in test operation and design.
• Some experience with networking infrastructure.
• Experience with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software.
• Experience performing finite element analysis (FEA) using relevant software.

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 Integrated Solar & Thermal Energy Systems department is at the forefront of developing, validating, and demonstrating thermal energy generation, storage, and utilization. We leverage world-class modeling and experimental capabilities. In close collaboration with industry partners, our team works to optimize the performance and efficiency of thermal energy technologies and processes, integrating them into hybrid energy systems. Sandia conducts pioneering research in a wide array of areas, including materials and reactions at high temperatures, component design and testing, integrated system controls, molten salt and particle-based concentrating solar thermal energy, direct heat for energy-intensive industrial applications (e.g., chemicals production, cement, food processing), and the sophisticated modeling of hybrid energy systems.

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories stands as the nation’s premier science and engineering lab, dedicated to national security and technology innovation. Our teams of specialists are engaged in cutting-edge work across a broad spectrum of disciplines. We take pride in:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide.
• Collaborating with extraordinary co-workers.
• Access to some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world.
• Abundant career advancement and enrichment opportunities.
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions, including 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, extensive 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

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

However, Sandia conducts a pre-employment drug test and background review for all hires. This review includes checks of personal references, credit history, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Employees in New Mexico must also pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Please be aware that substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct, or other indicators of untrustworthiness can lead to denied or terminated access, which would prevent you from performing assigned duties and result in termination of employment.

Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, individuals from these countries will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

If you are hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or if you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance must be U.S. citizens. 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.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. This access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements do not apply to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process includes the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions), and OF-306 (Declaration for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access, and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal an unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

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 Details

• Job ID: 697403
• Job Family: 91
• Regular/Temporary Position: Temporary
• Full/Part-Time Status: Part-Time