Read below for answers to your questions, arranged into several areas: general, compensation, housing, and travel.
General
- What is a Sandia internship?
- What is a technical institute?
- How do I apply for a specific institute?
- I am a graduating student, which positions should I apply to?
- Are all intern applicants offered internship positions?
- Do all Sandia interns have mentors?
- Does Sandia offer a co-op program?
- Are there professional-development and social activities for interns?
- How old must an intern be to participate in an internship?
- When are internships offered?
- When does a co-op internship begin and end?
- I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I participate in an internship or co-op?
- I am interested in an internship; however, my major is not in a technical field. Do I qualify?
- Can high school students participate in an internship?
- Will Sandia provide interns with a health insurance plan?
- Are interns employees of the federal government or Honeywell?
- How many hours does an intern work?
- What is the difference between an internship and a co-op?
Compensation
- Are interns paid?
- What is the typical compensation for interns at Sandia?
- Are interns compensated for employee holidays?
Housing
- Does Sandia manage the housing process for interns?
- What are my transportation options for getting to Sandia from my summer housing, and/or getting around the surrounding areas?
- Will Sandia reimburse me for the cost of shipping my personal belongings to my temporary residence?
Travel – Getting to and from Sandia
- Will Sandia pay for travel expenses to and from Sandia?
- Are travel reimbursements considered taxable income?
General
1. What is a Sandia internship?
A Sandia internship provides meaningful work experience to select high school, undergraduate, and graduate students under the direction of a Sandia mentor. Internships vary depending on the mentor, the type of work involved, the time of year, and more. Interns contribute to Sandia’s missions by working on real-world, challenging projects.
Most of our internships are in research and development (R&D) and technical areas. However, we also offer Business, Clerical, and Laborer (NM only) intern positions.
Sandia offers a traditional internship experience within one of Sandia’s departments, as well as the opportunity to participate in a technical institute focused on an area critical to Sandia’s mission.
2. What is a technical institute?
Institutes offer internships focused in the technical and R&D areas that support Sandia’s mission. Some institutes also offer co-op internships. Each institute is organized by one or more mentors who work with groups of interns on real-world, meaningful projects.
3. How do I apply for a specific institute?
See instructions on how to apply for internships.
4. I am a graduating student, which positions should I apply to?
Students can only apply for work at levels for which they have already completed coursework as an official student within an accredited school.
So, a high school student about to enter college can only apply for high school positions. Likewise, a student about to enter a Master’s program can only apply to undergraduate positions.
5. Are all intern applicants offered internship positions?
No. Many students apply to Sandia’s limited number of internships, so the program is highly competitive, and Sandia cannot accept all applicants.
6. Do all Sandia interns have mentors?
Yes. Managers are encouraged to assign interns with a Sandia mentor who supervises the intern’s work, provides guidance, and acts as a role model. An intern’s manager may also be their mentor.
7. Does Sandia offer a co-op program?
Yes. Co-op internships are an excellent way to supplement classroom learning with hands-on experience, preparing them for a career in their major fields of study. Students must make arrangements with their colleges or universities to participate in our co-op program.
8. Are there professional-development and social activities for interns?
Yes. Some professional development activities are planned during the workday for interns. These activities, which may include speakers, tours, and some lunchtime social events, are advertised on our internal Intern Central site. In addition, interns can use site-specific (New Mexico and California) Facebook groups to plan extracurricular social activities during lunchtime, evening, and weekend hours.
9. How old must an intern be to participate in an internship?
Students much be at least 16-years old to participate.
10. When are internships offered?
Our internships are generally most active between academic terms, so the largest influx of student interns occurs during the summer. Students who live within commuting distance may also be eligible for a year-round internship.
11. When does a co-op internship begin and end?
A co-op internship generally begins and ends in sync with a given academic term and could include an adjacent summer term. Work with your school to determine exact beginning and ending dates to receive the proper credit. You can also discuss your particular situation with your mentor to arrange an arrival date that suits both of your needs.
12. I am not a U.S. citizen. Can I participate in an internship or co-op?
Yes. International students who are attending a U.S. university may apply for internships or co-ops that do not require U.S. citizenship. However, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Sandia will not sponsor work authorization for internships.
13. I am interested in an internship; however, my major is not in a technical field. Do I qualify?
Yes. Sandia’s program includes business, clerical, and laborer (NM only) internships.
14. Can high school students participate in an internship?
Yes. We have limited openings for high school students who are at least 16-years old.
15. Will Sandia provide interns with a health insurance plan?
Summer interns are not eligible for medical benefits. Eligible year-round interns may enroll in Sandia’s Total Health Plan.
16. Are interns employees of the federal government or Honeywell?
Neither. Interns are considered employees of National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC.
17. How many hours does an intern work?
Maximum numbers of hours that can be worked will vary:
- Co-op and summer interns may work up to 40 hours per week.
- During the academic term, year-round high school or undergraduate interns may work up to 25 hours per week, and graduate interns up to 30 hours per week.
- During official school breaks, year-round interns may work up to 40 hours per week at the discretion of the intern’s manager.
18. What is the difference between an internship and a co-op?
Internships offer a lot of flexibility for students. Students can choose to participate in part-time internships during the academic semester so they can still take classes. They also have the option to work full-time in the summer when they are out of school without having to delay their graduation date. Internships are usually limited to one functional area within Sandia.
Co-ops differ. They involve partnerships and agreements between the university, Sandia, and the student. Co-ops require students to stop taking classes and work full-time during an academic term, which postpones graduation. In exchange, co-ops allows students to invest more time to Sandia and provide a significant contribution to complex projects—and potentially create an experience that gives co-op students an edge over their peers. Co-ops can also be rotational, offering students opportunities to experience different technical areas of interest.
Compensation
1. Are interns paid?
Yes, interns are paid competitively in sync with market rates.
2. What is the typical compensation for interns at Sandia?
Intern rates are based on the type of internship (R&D, Technical, Business, Clerical, or Laborer) and the current level of education (high school, undergraduate, or graduate). Compensation rates for undergraduate students are determined by the intern’s cumulative earned units.
Interns are compensated based on the following levels:
| Current Student Status | Units Completed |
| High School and High School Grad transitioning to college | N/A |
| High School Grad who has completed college coursework or new College Freshman | < 12 college credit hours |
| College Freshman | 12–30 units |
| College Sophomore (maximum for students pursuing a 2-yr degree | 31–60 units |
| College Junior | 61–90 units |
| College Senior | 91–120 units |
| College Senior | > 121+ units |
| B.S./B.A. grad, M.S./M.A. or Ph.D. student | N/A |
| M.S./M.A. grad, Ph.D. student | N/A |
| Ph.D. candidate (completed courses/exams and advanced to candidacy) | N/A |
3. Are interns compensated for employee holidays?
No. Interns do not work and are not compensated during employee holidays.
Housing
1. Does Sandia manage the housing process for interns?
Sandia does not manage the housing process for interns. Sandia interns may view helpful information on the Intern Housing Resources site (NM or CA).
2. What are my transportation options for getting to Sandia from my summer housing, and/or getting around the surrounding areas?
You have several options:
- Bicycling to work is very common for Sandians.
- You can take the local bus system (WHEELS in California or ABQ Ride New Mexico). Check their websites for current schedules.
- BART provides trains throughout the Bay Area, and WHEELS buses make regular trips between Sandia and BART.
- You may use your personal vehicle or find a local carpool.
3. Will Sandia reimburse me for the cost of shipping my personal belongings to my temporary residence?
Interns who are eligible to receive relocation benefits may request reimbursement for up to 50 pounds of personal items to and from the temporary residence.
Travel — Getting to and from Sandia
1. Will Sandia pay for travel expenses to and from Sandia?
Travel expenses are reimbursed only for interns whose school and permanent addresses are more than 50 miles from Sandia. TRC Global Solutions is Sandia’s chosen relocation company. For questions regarding travel, lodging, meals, and expense reimbursements, please contact TRC directly at 1-800-783-5337.
2. Are travel reimbursements considered taxable income?
Yes. Travel reimbursements are considered taxable income. Therefore, income tax on these payments will be withheld from the employee’s pay at supplemental withholding rates.