Engineering Graduate Student Intern – Solar Thermal Technologies

Job Description

Engineering Graduate Student Intern – Solar Thermal Technologies | Sandia National Laboratories

The Tone:
This is an internship at Sandia National Laboratories, located in Albuquerque, NM. Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab, dedicated to national security and technology innovation. This role is crucial for assisting R&D staff with cutting-edge advancements in solar thermal energy, directly contributing to national security through technology innovation.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Part-time (academic year), Full-time (summer)
• Location: Albuquerque, NM (In-person)
• Team: Solar Thermal Technologies Department, within the Integrated Solar & Thermal Energy Systems department.
• Mission: Support R&D staff in advancing solar thermal technologies, performance, and strategic analyses to contribute to national security.
• Tech Stack: LabView, Python, CAD software, FEA software, MS Office suite

What You’ll Actually Do
• Technology Advancement: Contribute to the development and enhancement of solar thermal technologies.
• System Optimization: Identify and implement strategies to optimize system efficiency and output.
• Experimental Support: Assist in the design of experimental setups, collect valuable research data, and perform test operations.
• Modeling and Analysis: Participate in the development and application of computational models and conduct technoeconomic analyses for solar thermal systems.
• R&D Collaboration: Conduct R&D activities or projects under senior staff leadership, often in collaborative teams, and assist in data analysis and the written dissemination of R&D outcomes.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Earned bachelor’s degree; currently attending and enrolled full-time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Experience: Familiarity with Concentrating Solar Thermal technology or alternative energy concepts; hands-on experience working with pressure systems, interpreting flow diagrams, and assembling laboratory test stands for sCO2 heat exchangers; hands-on chemical laboratory experience for Solar Thermal Chemical projects; experience with mechanical and electronic systems; experience in test operation and design.
• Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills; proficiency in coding with Python; experience using LabView or any other Data Acquisition (DAQ)/control software; experience with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software; experience performing finite element analysis (FEA) using relevant software.
• Bonus: Experience with networking infrastructure.