Summer 2027 Internship

Inertia • Livermore, CA

23h • $40 - $45 • Onsite

About The Position

Inertia is working to commercialize fusion energy using the scientifically proven approach that achieved fusion ignition at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The company aims to commercialize fusion energy within the next decade.

The 10–12-week summer internship gives interns a scoped research and development project with a dedicated mentor. Interns work alongside scientists and engineers in Livermore and present their results at an end-of-summer poster session. Projects are matched to interns based on their backgrounds and interests, and may cover fusion physics and simulation, diagnostics, lasers and optics, systems engineering, controls and data acquisition, software and AI, mechanical design and target manufacturing, or plant pathways.

The position is based on-site in Livermore, California, with hybrid work possible for some software projects. Employment is conditioned on eligibility for and, where required, obtaining and maintaining government authorization to access controlled technology or information, which may include a security clearance, export license, or other documentation.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a master's or PhD program in physics, applied physics, mechanical, electrical, nuclear, or optical engineering, materials science, chemistry, computer science, applied mathematics, or a related field.
• Experience programming or analyzing data in Python, MATLAB, C++, or a similar language.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to explain results clearly.
• Curiosity about fusion, lasers, or energy, and willingness to learn unfamiliar physics and tools.
• Comfort working on a fast-moving, collaborative team.
• Eligibility for and, where required, the ability to obtain and maintain government authorization to access controlled technology or information.

Nice To Haves

• Coursework or experience in plasma physics, optics, radiation detection, numerical methods, or materials.
• CAD, machining, or hands-on laboratory experience.
• Experience with Linux, C++ or Fortran, high-performance computing, or machine learning.
• Experience with diagnostics, controls, data acquisition, or automation.

Responsibilities

• Complete a defined research and development project with scoped questions and deliverables within the summer internship.
• Work with a dedicated mentor and collaborate with Inertia's scientists and engineers.
• Present project results at an end-of-summer poster session.
• Depending on project assignment, contribute to fusion simulation, diagnostics, laser and optical design or testing, systems engineering, controls and data acquisition software, software and AI tools, mechanical design and target manufacturing, or analysis of commercial and regulatory pathways for a fusion power plant.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern