Intern, R&D Graduate Year Round - Power Flow & Energy Coupling, Onsite

About the role

We are seeking graduate student interns to join a dynamic team conducting advanced pulsed power accelerator research at Sandia National Laboratories. Pulsed power is a broad, multidisciplinary field, so we invite applicants from several disciplines including electrical engineering, physics, mechanical engineering, and related fields.

Responsibilities

• Experimental vacuum system design, construction, and operation in pulsed power laboratories
• Mechanical and/or electrical design and assembly of pulsed power equipment
• Measurements of materials outgassing and/or electrode desorption in extreme environments
• Modeling of advanced pulsed power system designs using state‑of‑the‑art circuit and/or particle‑in‑cell research codes
• Development and analysis of novel plasma diagnostics (optical spectroscopy, laser probing) to understand plasma formation on electrodes in high‑current pulsed power accelerators
• Development, testing, and analysis of novel techniques to measure voltages and currents in high‑voltage, high‑current systems, resistant to interference from plasmas, particles, photons, and stray fields and currents
• Development and testing of advanced magnetic field coil concepts for magnetized high‑energy‑density physics experiments
• Design, build, and test RF power transmission circuitry incorporating high‑power RF amplifiers, cable routing, custom matching networks, and high‑power RF switching for broadband, multitone excitation applications
• Development of simulation techniques for coupling RF circuit digital twin with high‑power plasma etching processes in novel pulsed power environments
• Utilization of PIC/DSMC simulation tools to estimate bulk plasma densities and temperatures for capacitively coupled plasmas, and to calculate ion‑energy distribution functions and total ion surface fluence for 1‑D and 2‑D geometries

Pay

Interns earn competitive pay rates based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. The pay rate is determined during the hiring process and included in the offer package. See the Intern Pay Rate chart: Intern Pay Rate chart.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Outstanding academic record
• Experience with theory and diagnostics of weakly ionized, low‑temperature, capacitively coupled plasma
• Experience with plasma etching techniques utilizing RF, DC, and pulsed excitations
• Experience with PIC/DSMC modeling software tools for modeling weakly ionized, low‑temperature, capacitively coupled plasmas
• Proficiency with RF and transmission‑line theory and use of the Smith chart for network design
• Experience with PIC/DSMC modeling software tools for modeling low‑density, capacitively coupled plasmas
• Experience in high‑power RF systems, including transmission‑line design and modeling
• Experience with capacitively coupled plasma etching systems, including plasma diagnostics, matching‑network design and theory, and system operation
• Experience with data acquisition and scientific analysis software such as NI LabVIEW
• Experience with data acquisition and scientific analysis software such as MATLAB
• Experience analyzing experimental measurements involving visible spectroscopy and/or laser interferometry techniques with a focus on low‑density plasma measurements
• Experience at state‑of‑the‑art pulsed power, high‑energy‑laser, and/or accelerator facilities
• Experience working in a team environment to define and solve challenging, complex problems
• Demonstrated experimental, analytical, and data‑management skills
• Outstanding communication skills as demonstrated in technical publications, reports, and/or technical project presentations
• A strong desire to work in a fast‑paced and technically challenging research environment

About Our Team

Department 1659, part of the Pulsed Power Science and Technology group (1650), conducts experiments supporting power flow and energy coupling on the Z accelerator and other small‑scale facilities. The team advances validated computational modeling for power‑flow design, develops new systems for in‑situ electrode cleaning, evaluates advanced power‑flow coupling elements, and supports a variety of experimental capabilities and diagnostics serving ICF, radiation effects, materials, pulsed power, and fundamental‑science missions. The department also stewards the development of advanced magnetic‑field coils, fast gas‑puff nozzles, and related high‑voltage technologies, as well as advanced optical diagnostics such as Streak Visible Spectroscopy (SVS) and Z Line VISAR (ZLV). Additionally, the team manages the Mykonos linear transformer driver (LTD) and the Mykonos Academic Access Program (MAAP), which provides university access to the facility for hands‑on training.

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. Employees enjoy challenging work with global impact, extraordinary co‑workers, world‑class tools and facilities, career‑advancement opportunities, flexible work arrangements (including compressed workweeks, part‑time, and telecommuting), generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, a competitive 401(k