Sandia is partnering with University of Texas at Austin to strengthen the advanced manufacturing talent pipeline and accelerate adoption of next-generation manufacturing capabilities vital to national security.
A spring 2026 graduate course in additive manufacturing at UT Austin, sponsored by Sandia Academic Programs, the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation, and Sandia’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development mission campaign, Digitally Realized and Enabled Agile Advanced Manufacturing, dubbed DREA2M, will give students and Sandia participants access to leading-edge additive manufacturing and measurement tools.
“Advanced manufacturing is crucial for national security careers and beyond,” said Mohan Karulkar, manager for DREA2M and CAMINO. “By investing in this partnership, Sandia is preparing a future workforce that is knowledgeable in accelerating technologies like additive manufacturing, digital engineering and automation.”
Hands-on learning tied to real-world manufacturing practice
The semester-long course will include 15 in-person UT Austin graduate students and six online Sandia staff members. Sandia employees will receive a certificate of completion, and one participant will earn credit for a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from UT Austin.
Coursework is designed to build practical fluency in advanced manufacturing workflows. Participants will explore a range of additive manufacturing processes and measurement techniques through hands-on lab assignments, with an emphasis on understanding operational procedures and communicating effectively with technicians and other manufacturing partners.
Students will use equipment in UT Austin’s Center for Additive Manufacturing and Design Innovation, a facility that leverages key technologies used across the industry.
“Advanced manufacturing is a key focus for the Sandia-UT Austin partnership, along with quantum technology, AI for national security and microelectronics,” said Nadine Miner, Southwest partnerships manager for Academic Programs. “Academic Programs supports collaborations that connect researchers and strengthen education and workforce development. Sponsoring this course helps upskill Sandia’s workforce, informs curriculum in ways that develop workforce-ready talent and connects Sandia with top-trained graduates in advanced manufacturing.”
Launching CAMINO’s Advanced Manufacturing Academy
The course also marks the launch of CAMINO’s Advanced Manufacturing Academy, an effort to expand advanced training in manufacturing tools and techniques across the laboratory. By 2029, CAMINO plans to train up to 100 Sandia employees each year to help ensure the workforce can adopt new technologies quickly and effectively.
“The class gave me a better understanding of various 3D printing methods beyond just ceramic printing, helping me see their different uses and benefits,” process engineer James Kuthakun said. “I plan to apply this knowledge to explore new materials and techniques that could improve the quality and options in my future projects.”
As the academy grows, it will also expand training focused on national security needs — helping Sandia attract top talent and prepare for emerging challenges.
This collaboration underscores Sandia’s commitment to developing the people, partnerships and hands-on expertise needed to advance modern manufacturing capabilities in support of the nation’s most pressing security challenges.