Nuclear Fuel Development Intern - Summer 2027

Reporting to a Senior Manager within the Fuel Fabrication & Nuclear Materials Management Division, you will support hands-on research and engineering activities associated with nuclear fuel development, materials characterization, and irradiation experiment assembly at Idaho National Laboratory's Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC).

You will work alongside engineers, scientists, technicians, and other interns while contributing to projects that support the development and testing of advanced nuclear fuels and materials. Responsibilities may include conducting research, supporting laboratory and fabrication activities, analyzing technical data, preparing engineering documentation, and communicating results to project teams. Specific assignments will be based on your education, experience, interests, and current program needs.

Potential projects may include:

• Alloying, casting, heat treating, and other metallurgical processing of uranium alloys and advanced nuclear materials.
• Applying advanced manufacturing methods—including spark plasma sintering/electric field-assisted sintering (SPS/EFAS) and additive manufacturing—to nuclear fuel and materials development.
• Developing powder metallurgy processes for ceramic, metallic, and composite nuclear fuels.
• Performing materials testing, sample preparation, and characterization using furnaces, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface-area analysis (BET), and other laboratory techniques.
• Supporting the assembly and qualification of irradiation experiments for testing in nuclear research reactors. Activities may include welding and joining process development, test-rig assembly, nondestructive examinations, and preparation of quality documentation.
• Designing equipment, tooling, fixtures, or experiment hardware using computer-aided design software and preparing associated engineering drawings and documentation.
• Researching materials, manufacturing methods, technical standards, and inspection requirements to support engineering decisions.
• Analyzing experimental or process data and documenting results through presentations, technical reports, procedures, and other formal project deliverables.

This internship provides an opportunity to gain practical experience working on multidisciplinary projects spanning engineering, science, advanced materials, manufacturing, quality assurance, and project execution. You will be expected to work collaboratively, communicate clearly, take ownership of assigned tasks, and perform work in accordance with established safety, quality, and conduct-of-operations requirements.

This position works a 4x10 schedule and is performed onsite at the Materials and Fuels Complex near Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Minimum Qualifications

• Enrolled full time in an Undergraduate or Graduate degree program at an accredited college/university studying Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related field
• A minimum overall 3.0 GPA
• This position is subject to export control restrictions per the Department of Energy. For this reason, you must be either a US Citizen or a US Green Card holder to qualify for the job. 
• Current Resume or CV
• Unofficial Transcripts (include current and completed degree programs)
• Current class schedule and number of credits

Ideal Candidate

• Coursework or project experience in materials science, metallurgy, thermodynamics, or solid mechanics
• Exposure to materials characterization techniques (e.g., optical microscopy, SEM, XRD) through lab coursework, senior design, or undergraduate/graduate research
• Familiarity with manufacturing or fabrication processes such as casting, heat treatment, powder metallurgy, additive manufacturing, or welding/joining, gained through coursework or project work
• Experience with computer-aided design (CAD) software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Inventor)
• Understanding of nuclear reactor concepts, radiation effects on materials, or nuclear fuel cycles
• Prior internship, co-op, or research experience in a laboratory, manufacturing, or engineering setting
   

Job Description 

• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment. 

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job may require operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with the public is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.