Monitoring Systems and Technology Intern Center

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Overview

The Monitoring Systems and Technology Intern Center (MSTIC) is a student internship program focused on developing the next generation of experts in national security systems — space missions, treaty verification, nuclear nonproliferation, cooperative monitoring, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Working side-by-side with experienced research staff mentors, interns are encouraged to explore leading-edge technologies as they devise original, full-system solutions for real-world problems in national security.

MSTIC promotes collaboration, creativity, and mentorship by emphasizing teamwork, innovative thinking, and strong project leadership. In addition, the program provides a continuous learning environment through on-site training, technical seminars, and tours of current defense systems.

Designed for students interested in remote sensing, space-based systems, sensor technology, and high-consequence systems, MSTIC offers high-impact opportunities in the fields of computer, electrical, mechanical, optical, and systems engineering. MSTIC determines the best fit for each intern by taking into account individual skills and interests.

What You Gain

MSTIC interns will gain skills in the following areas:

  • Physics Based Modeling and Simulation on High Performance Computing
  • Software Design and Integration for Space Payloads
  • Signal Image Processing and Pattern Recognition for Signal Exploitation in Remote Sensing
  • Advanced Space Electronics Analog & Digital Design
  • Problem Decomposition for Space Embedded Systems from TRL-1 to TRL-9
  • Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary science team

Project Types

Examples of MSTIC projects in specific fields include the following:

Computer engineering
• Develop simulation hardware and software
• Develop interactive space payload graphical user interfaces
• Support ground segment systems
Optical engineering
• Design, analyze, and test components for optical remote sensing systems
• Conduct tolerancing and error budget development
• Model synthetic scene simulations and system performance
Electrical engineering
• Monitor underground sensors and high-resolution digitizers
• Develop MATLAB analysis programs
Systems engineering
• Develop new product conceptual designs
• Mange and resolve identified risks
• Ensure and verify the integrity of the program configuration baseline
Mechanical engineering
• Improve new product designs through highly accelerated life testing

Program Details

LocationNew Mexico
When OfferedYear Round
Summer
Co-op
LevelUndergrad
Graduate
DisciplineAerospace Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Materials Science
Optical Engineering
Physics
Mathematics
Geophysics
Seismology
Systems Engineering
or Related Discipline
Desired SkillsComputer engineering
UNIX shell scripting (including Perl)
UNIX operating system
C or C++ programming languages
Network architecture (e.g., TCP/IP and router configurations)

Electrical engineering
MATLAB
Statistics
Parallel processing

Mechanical engineering
Finite element analysis
Solid modeling
LabVIEW/MATLAB

Optical engineering

Zemax, CODE V, or similar packages
Interferometry
Image processing
Hyperspectral image analysis
MATLAB
Radiometry

Application Procedure

  1. Use Sandia’s Careers tool to create a username and password.
  2. Enter “MSTIC” into the Keywords text field, and click Search.
  3. Browse the list of MSTIC intern openings.
  4. Complete an online application for a specific intern opening.

Detailed instructions for using Sandia’s Career tool to apply for a position are also available.

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.

Sandia invites you to review the Equal Employment Opportunity posters which include EEO is the Law, EEO is the Law Poster Supplement, and Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

Sandia is a drug-free workplace. As a national laboratory funded by a U.S. government agency, we are subject to federal laws regarding illegal drug use. Illegal use of a controlled substance, including marijuana even in places where it does not violate state law, may impact your ability to obtain and/or maintain a Department of Energy security clearance, and may result in the withdrawal of an employment offer or termination of employment.