Internships & Co-ops

An internship with real-world application

Intrigued by the possibility of applying classroom theory in a real-world work environment? Consider Sandia.

Each year, Sandia welcomes students from around the country—from those in their final years of high school to researchers obtaining PhDs—to work in a variety of technical and business positions. Interns work on real-world, challenging projects to contribute to critical national goals.

Many of our research internships can be experienced through technical institutes that encompass a range of disciplines, including cyber security, energy surety, engineering design, and software development. Each institute provides a team to guide and mentor interns in projects aligned with their major or area of particular technical interest. Professional development and social activities supplement project work to create an even more rewarding experience.

Our internships provide students

  • Opportunities to work on challenging projects at competitive pay
  • Academic credits for some co-op and other internships
  • Research mentoring from top scientists and engineers
  • Training and practical work experience using state-of-the-art equipment and instruments

In some cases, internships can also lead to an offer of full-time employment.  

Sandia cultivates longstanding academic partnerships with institutions across the nation: Learn More>

Internship Types

Sandia offers several types of internships to help jump-start your career 

Summer Internship

These internships, available to students at all education levels from all over the country, typically run 10-12 weeks, generally from May to the last Thursday in August. Summer interns may work up to 40 hours per week.

Year-Round Internship

Year-round internships allow students who attend local schools to work part-time at a Sandia site. College juniors and above attending more distant schools may be allowed to work offsite through an official telecommuting agreement (see requirements). During the academic terms, high school and undergraduate students can work up to 25 hours a week, and graduate students up to 30 hours a week. During school breaks, interns may work up to 40 hours per week. 

Co-Op Internship

Co-op internships, conducted in partnership with individual schools, allow students to take time off during the academic year to gain work experience at Sandia, working up to 40 hours a week. Students return to school full-time after the internship. These internships typically run 3–8 months during the academic term and may include an adjacent summer term. Students must be enrolled in their school’s official co-op program to participate.

Academic Internship

This non-traditional internship is available to R&D or technical pipeline students who are attending a school with a track system or who have an alternative status that allows deferral of a term. Students remain active in their degree programs and return to school full-time after the internship, which typically runs 3–5 months and may include an adjacent summer. Academic interns may work up to 40 hours per week. 

Requirements

Before applying to an internship or co-op, make sure you meet these minimum requirements:

  • U.S. citizenship for positions that require security clearance or as stated in the job posting
  • At least 16 years of age
  • Full-time enrollment status (typically 12 units for undergraduates  and 9 units for graduate students) at an accredited college, university, or high school
    • Year-round/co-op intern – Must be a full-time student during the academic school year (spring, fall, and winter)
    • Summer intern – Must be a full-time student during the spring term immediately preceding the internship
    • Academic intern – Must be a full-time student during the term (spring, fall, or winter) immediately preceding the internship
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average
    • 3.0/4.0 for graduate students
    • 3.0/4.0 for undergraduate and high school students applying for Research and Development (R&D), Technical, or Business positions
    • 2.5/4.0 for undergraduate and high school students applying for clerical or laborer positions (Laborer positions are available only at the Sandia/New Mexico site)

How to Apply

Apply to each job you are interested in separately, following these steps:

  1. Use Sandia’s Careers tool to create a username and password.
  2. Filter by the Student Job Family or Job Type.
  3. Browse the list of internship and co-op openings.
  4. Complete your online application.

Detailed instructions for using Sandia’s Careers tool to apply for a position are also available.

Selection

Many factors are considered in the selection of an intern, including your interests, academic achievement, and applicable experience, as well as Sandia’s workforce needs.

Check out our Internship Experiences

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.

Sandia invites you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law, EEO is the Law Poster Supplement, and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

As a national laboratory funded by a U.S. government agency, we are subject to federal laws regarding illegal drug use. Marijuana use, including for medicinal purposes, is a violation of federal law, even in places where it does not violate state law. Illegal use of a controlled substance within the last 12 months will automatically disqualify candidates from consideration for employment or for a Department of Energy security clearance.