Intern, R&D Undergraduate Co-op - Solar Thermal Test & Demonstration, Onsite

About the Role

We are seeking an Industrial Engineering or Engineering Management Co-op in the Concentrating Solar Test & Demonstration department to assist our staff with the operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the test capabilities at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). The work performed by the student intern will help our staff to develop our process for operation, control, and maintenance of our heliostat field, solar furnace, solar simulator, as well as other testing capabilities. This work will ensure that we can effectively deliver on our deep R&D work.

On Any Given Day This Individual Should Expect To

• Support maintenance and operations activities as needed
• Lead a continuous improvement project, with the goal of getting real world lean experience
• Work closely with technologists and engineers to improve our facility and capabilities
• Learn about what it is like to run a 500 acre test facility and all the details of operations
• Support testing campaigns and interact with NSTTF customer base

Qualifications We Require

• Undergraduate student at an accredited university
• Enrolled full time in the term immediately preceding the internship
• Pursuing a science, engineering, or math major
• Registration with the university's co-op office
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
• Ability to work up to 40 hours per week
• U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, asylees or refugees in the U.S.

Qualifications We Desire

• Some familiarity with Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) or thermal energy
• Experience using 3D CAD modeling software a plus
• Demonstrated experience using MS Office and excellent written and oral communication skills
• Experience working in an industrial facility or operational environment
• Experience in test operations and experimental design
• Experience using basic hand tools (Drills, wrenches, and Multimeters)
• Knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, or material mechanics
• Experience using LabView or any DAQ/control software
• Experience programming in Labview, Matlab, or Python
• Experience with Lean problem solving

About Our Team

The Solar Thermal Test & Demonstration department operates Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF), a globally unique, multi-mission R&D capability that enables pioneering research and technology development for energy and aerospace applications. Using concentrated sunlight, our team creates extreme thermal and combined harsh environments for tests ranging from small-scale coupons to full-scale, multi-story components and systems. We develop and test advanced thermal protection materials, optical metrology systems, innovative solar thermal energy technologies, and heat transfer technologies, including heat exchangers and heat pumps.