Materials and Chemical Engineering Intern

Analytical Mechanics Associates•Mountain View, CA

4d•$30 - $34•Onsite

About The Position

AMA is seeking motivated and detail-oriented Materials and Chemical Engineering Interns to join our team in Moffett Field, CA supporting NASA on the Aircraft Systems and Spaceflight Engineering Support Services (ASSESS) contract at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). Work will be in support of the Thermal Protection Materials branch, part of the Entry Systems and Technology Division at NASA ARC. The positions are expected to start as soon as possible, and continue for a minimum of one year. Level of effort can be variable during the school year based on course schedule, but may ramp up to full-time during the summer. About the Projects: NASA ARC is seeking support for various thermal protection focused projects, including: Charring and manufacturing of low-density fibrous ceramics and glassy coatings for next generation commercial space vehicle support Development and maturation of woven Thermal Protection Materials (TPS) for more demanding NASA and DoD applications Development and maturation of low cost TPS for high cadence Earth/Mars applications for both NASA and commercial space Supporting efforts to understand material behavior variations during flight and ground testing Post flight characterization and analysis of TPS coupons Support efforts for transfer of TPS technologies to commercial partners Ability to understand the UV-curing process of polymers and to evaluate and handle materials throughout the curing process Pay for this position is $29.50/hr -$33.50/hr, depending on education.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree (B.S, M.S or PhD) in Materials, Chemical, Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering; or a related field
Familiarity with typical lab standard operating procedures (SOP) and safety protocols
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Ability to stand for a majority of the day, and lift up to 50lbs
Expected to work (in person at NASA Ames Research Center) 10 hours per week or more, as allowed by the candidate’s course schedule. Therefore, must pursue studies locally (within 20 miles of NASA ARC)
This position requires U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residency due to project requirements.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of structure and processing of polymers, ceramic, glass, and porous/insulating materials
Some background knowledge in materials processing and characterization – including familiarity with analytical lab equipment such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), and mechanical testing

Responsibilities

Materials processing and fabrication
Materials characterization including microstructure, optical, thermal and mechanical properties
High temperature polymer and TPS optimization
UV curable polymers
Lab safety-related tasks (hazardous waste accumulation, housekeeping, and lab safety-related inspections)
Regular reporting (verbal and/or written) to research mentor on progress of project
Documentation of work done and communication of findings to project team