Sandia National Laboratories offers internships and co-op opportunities for students ranging from those in their final years of high school to researchers pursuing PhDs. The programs allow students to work on challenging projects while gaining practical experience in technical and business areas.
Current openings are listed at Sandia sites including Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California, with the careers page showing multiple opportunities across different student levels and disciplines.
Opportunity Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Sandia National Laboratories |
| Opportunity | Internships & Co-ops |
| Locations | Albuquerque, NM; Livermore, CA; other Sandia sites |
| Applicants | High school, undergraduate and graduate students |
| Types | Summer, year-round and co-op |
| Fields | Technical, R&D, business and other areas |
| Pay | Paid hourly |
| Academic credit | Available for some co-op and internship programs |
| Minimum age | 16 |
| GPA | Generally 3.0 for R&D, technical and business applicants |
| Deadline | Varies by individual opening |
| Application | Sandia Careers |
Why This Opportunity Matters
Sandia’s internships are designed around practical work rather than classroom learning alone. Interns can contribute to projects connected to critical national goals while working with scientists, engineers and other professionals.
The opportunities span areas including:
- Engineering
- Computer science
- Software development
- Cybersecurity
- Energy
- Business
- Research and development
- Data and information systems
- Technical disciplines
Sandia also states that interns may receive research mentoring, training and practical experience using advanced equipment and instruments.
Who Should Apply?
These opportunities can suit students at several stages of education.
High School Students
Sandia accepts students as young as 16, subject to the requirements of the individual opportunity.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduates can find opportunities in R&D, engineering, computer science, business, technical and other areas.
Graduate Students
Graduate and PhD students can find research-focused opportunities, including positions involving specialized technical disciplines.
The current listings demonstrate the breadth of opportunities, including computer science research, mechanical design, materials technology, cybersecurity-related work, energy and other technical areas.
Eligibility Requirements Explained
Sandia lists several minimum requirements.
Age
Applicants must generally be at least 16 years old.
Student Status
Applicants must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college, university or high school.
Sandia generally defines full-time enrollment as:
- 12 units for undergraduate students
- 9 units for graduate students
Summer interns must be full-time students during the spring term immediately before the internship, while year-round and co-op interns must remain full-time students during the academic year.
GPA
The minimum cumulative GPA depends on the type of opportunity.
For R&D, technical and business internships, undergraduate and high school applicants generally need a 3.0/4.0 GPA, while graduate students also require a 3.0/4.0 GPA.
Certain clerical or laborer opportunities have a lower 2.5/4.0 requirement.
Citizenship
U.S. citizenship is required for positions that require security clearance or where the individual job posting states that citizenship is required.
This is particularly important for international students. Applicants should check the citizenship and clearance requirements of each individual opening before applying.
Internship Types
Sandia identifies three main internship categories:
- Summer Internship
- Year-Round Internship
- Co-Op Internship
The appropriate option depends on the student’s academic schedule and the requirements of the specific opening.
Pay and Benefits
Sandia states that interns receive competitive pay and benefits. Interns are non-exempt temporary employees and are paid hourly, with rates based on factors such as classification and degree level.
The exact pay is not presented as one universal amount because compensation varies according to classification, academic level and other factors.
Sandia also highlights:
- Competitive pay
- Benefits
- Research mentoring
- Training
- Practical work experience
- Academic credit for some internships and co-ops
In some cases, internships may also lead to an offer of full-time employment, although this is not guaranteed.
What Interns Can Actually Do
Sandia’s current openings show that students can work on highly specialized projects.
Depending on the opportunity, work can involve areas such as:
- Computer science research
- Software and technology
- Engineering design
- Materials and metallurgy
- Energy systems
- Nuclear technologies
- Mechanical systems
- Data and information systems
- Mission technology
- Business services
The actual responsibilities, qualifications and academic requirements depend on the individual internship.
How Competitive Is This Opportunity?
Opportunities Feed assessment: The application requirements indicate that applicants need to demonstrate both academic eligibility and a relevant connection to the internship.
The GPA requirement is particularly important for R&D, technical and business opportunities. Applicants should also pay close attention to citizenship and security-clearance requirements because these can restrict eligibility for particular positions.
Sandia says selection considers factors including the applicant’s interests, academic achievement, applicable experience and the laboratory’s workforce needs.
How to Improve Your Application
1. Apply to Relevant Openings
Sandia requires applicants to apply separately to each job they are interested in.
Choose openings that genuinely match your education and skills.
2. Make Your Resume Easy to Evaluate
Sandia states that recruiters manually review resumes for each job posting rather than using resume-screening software.
This means your resume should clearly show:
- Degree and current academic status
- GPA where relevant
- Technical skills
- Projects
- Research experience
- Relevant work experience
- Achievements
3. Highlight Practical Projects
Students without extensive employment history can emphasize university projects, laboratory work, research, coding projects, engineering projects and relevant academic activities.
4. Check Security Requirements
Do not assume that every Sandia internship has the same citizenship requirements. Read the specific vacancy carefully, particularly where security clearance is involved.
Documents You May Need
Applicants should prepare information commonly requested during an internship application, including:
- Resume
- Education details
- Academic information
- GPA
- Relevant experience
- Technical or research experience
Sandia also evaluates student transcripts during the hiring process.
The exact documents required can vary by opening.
Application Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid:
- Applying without checking the citizenship requirement
- Ignoring the GPA requirement
- Applying for an unrelated field
- Failing to maintain required student status
- Using a vague resume
- Leaving relevant projects off your application
- Assuming one application covers multiple openings
- Waiting until an opportunity closes
How to Apply
Sandia provides a specific application process for internships and co-ops:
- Open the Sandia Careers tool.
- Create a username and password.
- Filter by the Student Job Family or Job Type.
- Browse available internships and co-op openings.
- Select an opportunity that matches your background.
- Review the individual requirements.
- Complete the online application.
- Apply separately to each opportunity you want to be considered for.
View Sandia Internships & Co-ops
View Current Sandia Internship Openings
Application Deadline
There is no single universal deadline stated for all Sandia internships and co-ops.
Because openings differ, applicants should check the individual vacancy for its closing date and apply as early as possible.
What Happens After You Apply?
The supplied Sandia information explains the application process and selection considerations but does not provide one universal post-application timeline for every internship.
Selection can consider interests, academic achievement, applicable experience and Sandia’s workforce requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sandia offer paid internships?
Yes. Sandia states that interns are paid hourly and receive competitive pay and benefits.
Who can apply for Sandia internships?
Sandia welcomes students ranging from high school students to PhD researchers, subject to the requirements of individual opportunities.
What is the minimum age?
The general minimum age listed is 16 years old.
What GPA is required?
A 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA is generally required for graduate students and undergraduate or high school applicants seeking R&D, technical or business opportunities. Certain clerical and laborer opportunities have a 2.5/4.0 requirement.
Can international students apply?
Some Sandia positions require U.S. citizenship, particularly positions requiring security clearance or where the job posting specifies it. Applicants must check the individual vacancy.
Does Sandia offer co-op opportunities?
Yes. Sandia lists summer internships, year-round internships and co-op internships.
Can an internship lead to a full-time job?
Sandia states that, in some cases, internships can lead to full-time employment. However, the source does not describe this as a guarantee.
Where are Sandia internships located?
The supplied careers page lists current openings in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California, while individual opportunities determine the actual work location.
Opportunities Feed Verdict
Sandia National Laboratories offers internship and co-op opportunities across a wide range of technical, research and business disciplines. The programs can be particularly relevant to students who want practical experience connected to research, engineering, technology, cybersecurity, energy or business.
Before applying, students should carefully check student status, GPA, citizenship requirements, location and the qualifications listed in the specific vacancy.
Opportunities Feed is sharing this information for educational and career-information purposes. We are not affiliated with Sandia National Laboratories and do not recruit applicants on its behalf.
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