Quantum Enrichment Experimental Technician - Intern

This is a hands-on internship designed to provide practical experience supporting the design and execution of laser-based quantum enrichment experiments. The intern will work closely with mid-career and lead experimentalists, contributing to experimental setup, operation, and data collection while developing foundational skills in experimental laser systems, vacuum hardware, and instrumentation. The role focuses on learning through supervised, real world laboratory work, including assisting with equipment assembly, calibration, troubleshooting, and experimental runs. The internship offers exposure to isotope separation technologies in a fast-paced R&D environment and is well suited for students or early career individuals seeking to build technical laboratory experience. Role is based in Austin, TX.

• Interest in and some exposure to vacuum systems, lasers, optics, or experimental hardware through coursework, labs, or projects; prior hands-on experience with vacuum equipment or laser systems is a plus.
• Basic familiarity with instrumentation and data acquisition (e.g., using sensors, lab equipment, or simple control/DAQ systems in a lab environment); deeper experience is a plus.
• Willingness to learn and assist with troubleshooting experimental setups, working with senior team members · Strong attention to detail particularly in data recording, equipment handling, and following written procedures and checklists.
• Awareness of laboratory safety principles (chemical handling, radiation safety basics, PPE usage) from university labs or equivalent; additional safety training will be provided on the job.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a lab team, take direction and guidance from senior experimentalists, and ask clarifying questions when clarifications needed.
• Basic proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools such as Excel; familiarity with Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.
• Willingness to work in a fast-paced R&D environment with evolving priorities, experimental schedules, and hands-on lab tasks.
• Currently pursuing a B.S., M.S., or PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Completion of at least sophomore year prior to the start of the internship is preferred.
• Prior experience in experimental design and operations (e.g., university research lab, hands-on course lab, personal or team engineering projects) is a plus but not required.

• Assist with the design, control and instrumentation architectures for laser-based isotope enrichment experiments, including defining measurement requirements, selecting sensors and gauges, and planning integration of vacuum, thermal, and laser subsystems.
• Contribute to the upfront definition of the experimental design space by helping specify key parameters (e.g., pressure, temperature, laser power, flow conditions) and their allowable ranges for subsequent modeling, virtual experiments, and limited physical tests.
• Help develop and refine predictive models and analysis tools (e.g., parameter maps, response surfaces, simple surrogate models) that describe how experimental outputs depend on operating conditions, informing test planning and optimization.
• Support the experimental team in planning laser enrichment test campaigns, including drafting run matrices, defining parameter scan strategies, identifying critical measurements, and determining minimal validation experiments needed to test model predictions.
• Plan and structure data collection workflows by defining which experimental parameters will be monitored, how they will be logged, and how they will be organized for later model calibration and analysis.
• Maintain clear and accurate technical documentation for system designs and models, including instrumentation layouts, vacuum and laser configuration drawings, calibration plans, maintenance schedules, and test matrices in accordance with company procedures.