Applications Engineering Intern

INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED LEARNING AND RESEARCH•Danville, VA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Interested in machining, additive manufacturing, engineering optimization, and hands‑on process development? Join the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) for a summer internship supporting both the Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AMCOE) and the Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) Optimization Team. This internship offers practical, real-world experience contributing to machining improvements, additive manufacturing workflows, and industry‑driven engineering initiatives. This position requires eligibility to access controlled unclassified information (CUI) and export controlled data, and candidates must meet applicable federal requirements, including U.S. person status where required. WHAT YOU’LL DO • Support machining improvement projects, including tool‑life studies and process parameter development • Assist with workflow refinement, machine‑tool data collection, and engineering trials • Contribute to Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) efforts and additive build preparation • Participate in post‑processing evaluations and performance data analysis • Document results, summarize findings, and support translation of results into industry improvements • Work collaboratively with AMCOE and CMA teams on applied engineering tasks WHAT YOU’LL LEARN • Hands‑on experience with CNC machining, additive manufacturing, and optimization techniques • Practical understanding of integrated additive and subtractive manufacturing workflows • Skills in data collection, performance analysis, documentation, and process refinement • Professional experience supporting industry‑aligned engineering projects • Exposure to real‑world applications of manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering principles PROGRAM DETAILS • Duration: 8 weeks • Schedule: Approximately 28 hours per week, up to a maximum of 224 hours • Compensation: $15 per hour / $3,360 total stipend • Location: In-person at IALR (Danville, VA) • Eligibility: U.S. citizenship required OTHER DETAILS IALR reserves the right to modify and/or cancel the internship program. Modifications may include a shortened timeframe with a pro‑rated adjustment to compensation, alternate assignments, or adjustments to work-site location. Internships are primarily in-person. The IALR Internship Program does not provide local housing or a housing allowance.

Requirements

Eligibility to access controlled unclassified information (CUI) and export controlled data, and candidates must meet applicable federal requirements, including U.S. person status where required.
To be considered for the 2026 IALR Internship Program, applicants must meet ONE of the following criteria:
Be a high school graduate (may be graduating Spring 2026) with plans to attend college in Fall 2026
Be a current undergraduate or graduate student
Be a recent college graduate (within the past 12 months)
U.S. citizenship required
All applicants must submit ONE letter of recommendation as part of the application process.
The letter must include:
The reference’s relationship to the applicant
Length of time the reference has known the applicant
Comments on the applicant’s knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to the internship
Any concerns that may prevent successful completion of the internship

Responsibilities

Support machining improvement projects, including tool‑life studies and process parameter development
Assist with workflow refinement, machine‑tool data collection, and engineering trials
Contribute to Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM) efforts and additive build preparation
Participate in post‑processing evaluations and performance data analysis
Document results, summarize findings, and support translation of results into industry improvements
Work collaboratively with AMCOE and CMA teams on applied engineering tasks

Stand Out From the Crowd

Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.

Upload and Match Resume