What are the responsibilities and job description for the Intern, High School Technical Year-Round - AutonomyNM, Onsite position at Sandia National Laboratories?
What Your Job Will Be Like
We are currently hiring high school interns to join our AutonomyNM Institute for 2025. AutonomyNM interns work with expert staff in research and development of autonomous systems from stationary to hypersonic applications, from a single vehicle to swarms. Examples of tasks include developing algorithms, developing software, coding at various levels from high level to assembly, integrating processors (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, GPU) into flight hardware, programming robots, generating trajectories, flying drones, analyzing test data, modeling/simulating dynamic systems, etc. Mentoring and training will be provided.
We are looking for interns who aspire to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mathematics, physics, computer science, data science, or related STEM fields.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
At Sandia, we value the important work done by our interns and its contribution to National Security. Because of this, our interns earn competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your pay rate will be determined during the hire process and included in your offer package. You can view the Intern Pay Rate chart here (https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/51/2024/12/Student-Rate-Sheet-2025.docx) .
Qualifications We Require
You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:
You bring to our team some of the following qualifications, skills and enthusiasm in:
This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
About Our Team
AutonomyNM Intern Institute conducts research and engineering to be applied to: 1) Autonomous sensing and target recognition, decisioning, and navigation/guidance/control (NGC) systems; 2) Cooperative autonomous systems for high consequence mission execution; and 3) AI-enabled modeling and analysis of national security technologies.
AutonomyNM exists to innovate and implement autonomy solutions for our national security mission. We do this by mentoring the next generation of engineers and scientists, investing in our staff to develop new capabilities, and demonstrating cutting-edge research in the lab and beyond. Our interns also participate in activities of a large intern hub, Technical Internships to Advance National Security (TITANS) that includes tracks for Cybersecurity, Software and Math and Analytics.
AutonomyNM is funded partly by the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office that includes university collaborations, an innovative research portfolio in autonomous systems development, and flight demonstrations of technology advancement. Summer Interns at AutonomyNM will have the opportunity to perform experiments in a state-of-the-art 4000-sqft high bay drone lab with a high-resolution motion capture system.
About Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:
This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.
Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.
If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.
Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.
Eeo
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.
NNSA Requirements For MedPEDs
If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.
If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.
Job ID: 695479
Job Family: 91
Regular/Temporary Position: T
Full/Part-Time Status: P
We are currently hiring high school interns to join our AutonomyNM Institute for 2025. AutonomyNM interns work with expert staff in research and development of autonomous systems from stationary to hypersonic applications, from a single vehicle to swarms. Examples of tasks include developing algorithms, developing software, coding at various levels from high level to assembly, integrating processors (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, GPU) into flight hardware, programming robots, generating trajectories, flying drones, analyzing test data, modeling/simulating dynamic systems, etc. Mentoring and training will be provided.
We are looking for interns who aspire to apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) to mathematics, physics, computer science, data science, or related STEM fields.
On any given day, you may be called on to:
- Learn from, and discuss a research idea with a staff mentor or a graduate or undergraduate intern.
- Peruse and summarize a draft or published scientific paper
- Derive or solve an equation
- Write, review, test, or debug a piece of computer code
- Process data to support analysis and decision making
- Use software tools as needed by your project/research team(s)
- Program, operate, maintain, repair or improve hardware such as sensors, drones, 3D printers, microprocessors, computers, etc.
- Communicate your work and results with stakeholders, verbally and in writing.
- Engage with many other interns in professional and social activities.
At Sandia, we value the important work done by our interns and its contribution to National Security. Because of this, our interns earn competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your pay rate will be determined during the hire process and included in your offer package. You can view the Intern Pay Rate chart here (https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/51/2024/12/Student-Rate-Sheet-2025.docx) .
Qualifications We Require
You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:
- Attending a local high school
- Enrolled full time, as defined by the school
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
- Ability to work up to 25 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during the summer
- Minimum 16 years of age
- U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, asylees or refugees in the U.S.
You bring to our team some of the following qualifications, skills and enthusiasm in:
- Completion, by summer 2025, of AP or college credits in multiple advanced mathematics classes, especially Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equation or Linear Algebra, Real Analysis, or other similarly challenging classes
- Proficiency in Python, C/C /C#, Java, Julia, R, or another programming language, or Matlab, Mathematica, or another scientific tool/package
- A high achievement in a national or international competition in mathematics or computer science
- Passion and ability to explain and engage in scientific discussions on an emerging technology that requires advanced mathematics, such as quantum computing, knot theory, mathematical biology, or mathematical finance.
- A high numerical measure of scholarly achievement, such as GPA (near 4.0/4.0 unweighted, above 4.0 weighted); near-perfect SAT or ACT scores; etc.
- Dual enrolment with a university or community college, particularly in STEM classes
This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
About Our Team
AutonomyNM Intern Institute conducts research and engineering to be applied to: 1) Autonomous sensing and target recognition, decisioning, and navigation/guidance/control (NGC) systems; 2) Cooperative autonomous systems for high consequence mission execution; and 3) AI-enabled modeling and analysis of national security technologies.
AutonomyNM exists to innovate and implement autonomy solutions for our national security mission. We do this by mentoring the next generation of engineers and scientists, investing in our staff to develop new capabilities, and demonstrating cutting-edge research in the lab and beyond. Our interns also participate in activities of a large intern hub, Technical Internships to Advance National Security (TITANS) that includes tracks for Cybersecurity, Software and Math and Analytics.
AutonomyNM is funded partly by the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office that includes university collaborations, an innovative research portfolio in autonomous systems development, and flight demonstrations of technology advancement. Summer Interns at AutonomyNM will have the opportunity to perform experiments in a state-of-the-art 4000-sqft high bay drone lab with a high-resolution motion capture system.
About Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:
- Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
- Extraordinary co-workers
- Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
- Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
- Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
- Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*
- These benefits vary by job classification.
This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.
Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People's Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents of the United States.
If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.
Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.
Eeo
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.
NNSA Requirements For MedPEDs
If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.
If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.
Job ID: 695479
Job Family: 91
Regular/Temporary Position: T
Full/Part-Time Status: P
