Posting Title

Undergraduate Intern – Mechanical Engineering/Automation and Controls

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

NLR is seeking a part-time undergraduate intern to support ongoing research and operational activities at the High Flux Solar Furnace (HFSF). Working under the direct guidance of experienced engineering staff, the intern will assist with daily laboratory operations, experimental testing setups, and support efforts to modernize and automate facility hardware.

Job duties will include:

Extreme Environment Testing Support: Assisting engineering staff with setting up and executing thermal tests on experimental hardware, utilizing principles of hardware testing in extreme environments (similar to aerospace or collegiate-level rocket/payload testing).
Temperature Control and Automation Assistance: Supporting efforts to transition manual laboratory setups to automated operations, specifically assisting with the implementation and testing of closed-loop PID temperature control systems.
Data Acquisition (DAQ) Support: Helping to configure, calibrate, and troubleshoot DAQ instrumentation using LabVIEW and National Instruments (NI) hardware to monitor furnace sensors (drawing on experience with automotive or team-based DAQ setups).
CAD and Mechanical Design: Utilizing SolidWorks to draft and model custom mounting brackets, sensor fixtures, and structural components for the furnace.
Software and Interface Development: Assisting with script writing and the development of basic web-based monitoring tools using Python, Django, and React to display real-time data from HFSF instrumentation.

Basic Qualifications

Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average

Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.  
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.

 Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.  
Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.

  Please Note: 
• Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process. 
• If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process. 
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications

Currently enrolled as an undergraduate pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
Experience with SolidWorks is highly desired/required.
Hands-on academic or project experience with LabVIEW and National Instruments (NI) DAQ hardware.
Experience with basic scripting in Python.

Preferred Qualifications

Certified SolidWorks Professional (CSWP) designation is highly preferred.
Hands-on experience designing and building closed-loop PID temperature control systems using LabVIEW and National Instruments (NI) DAQ hardware.
Experience developing data acquisition (DAQ) systems.
Background in hardware testing for extreme environments.
Familiarity with full-stack software development and frameworks (specifically Python, Django, etc.) for system monitoring or data visualization.
Experience with signal processing or hardware decoding systems (e.g., DTMF decoding).

Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)

Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $34,800 - $55,700

NLR takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging Requirement

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.

Drug Free Workplace

NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable Accommodations

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