As a Nondestructive Test (NDT) Engineer Intern for the Metallurgy and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Laboratory at Johnson Space Center White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) near Las Cruces, New Mexico you will be responsible for carrying out NDE Design, Development, Test, and Evaluation (DDT&E) duties in a safe and timely manner. This role is for a hands-on person with great attention to detail and excellent people skills. If you have a great attitude and a creative mind then you will feel right at home in this organization!
In this position, you may have opportunities to:
- Take part in advancing NDE state-of-the-art for NASA and spaceflight partners
- Introduce yourself to and brief WSTF site management on your projects
- Get to know how WSTF functions and our role in the agency
- Tour interesting areas to learn about other WSTF capabilities
- Report findings in an AIAA-formatted research paper
- Assist WSTF projects in other areas as permitted by your mentor
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Advance composite pressure vessel ultrasonic bondline defect detection
- Characterize eddy current crack detection in Inconel® 718 pressure vessels
- Set up and calibrate nondestructive testing equipment
- Establish techniques for proper examination of objects under inspection
- Perform specialized inspections
- Conduct and fully document test parameters to ensure quality or detect discontinuities (defects) using NDT methods of inspection
- Organize and report test results
- Assist other engineers and technicians as required
- Ensure operational safety of all equipment
- Meet OSHA safety requirements
- Meet ISO-9001 quality requirements
- Meet ISO-14001 environmental requirements
- Sign Non-Disclosure Agreements if required
- Perform other job-related tasks as assigned by your sponsor
Due to the ongoing risk of COVID-19, the NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internships program will support only virtual internships this upcoming summer 2021 session. Interns will not be asked to relocate. Laptops and RSA tokens will be shipped to interns.
- Students: Apply by Friday, March 5th, 2021 at intern.nasa.gov
- Mentors Rank Candidates By: Friday March 12th, 2021
- Session Dates (10 weeks): May 31st, 2021 – August 6th, 2021
Desired competencies include:
- Technical background in NDT methods and procedures
- Familiarity with Probability of Detection (POD)
- Knowledge of NDT equipment
- Independent self starter
- Strong work ethic
- Dependable
- Exceptional safety and quality awareness
- Good mechanical aptitude
- Adaptable to changing schedules
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Superior technical reporting skills
- Team work
- Receptive to directions
- Strong organizational skills
- Certifications which give you an advantage over competition, listed by priority:
- ASNT ACCP Level II or Level III certifications in ET, UT, RT, VT and PT
- AWS CWI or SCWI certifications
- API 510/570 certifications
- SPRAT and/or IRATA Level 1 certificate
Since 1963, WSTF has conducted hazardous testing for NASA at the secure 37,000-acre location 25 minutes from the second-largest city in the state where the arid climate is ideal for year-round testing. At WSTF you will serve in a historic team which has made contributions to the Apollo moon landing, Space Shuttle engine testing and failure investigations, International Space Station operational test support, and crewed spaceflight in general – a tradition which continues with support to NASA programs including Artemis and Orion, along with collaboration with commercial providers including SpaceX, Airbus, Boeing, Sierra Nevada, and Virgin Galactic. The Metallurgy & NDE Lab provides test and evaluation support ensuring components fulfill design requirements for programs, governments, manufacturers, and other strategic partners.
Through 50+ years of continuous support, WSTF has earned preeminence agency-wide for the following core capabilities:
- Propellants & Aerospace Fluids Testing & Analysis
- Composite Pressure Systems Testing and Analysis
- Spaceflight Component Services
- Rocket Propulsion Testing & Evaluation
- Oxygen Systems Testing & Analysis
- Flight Acceptance Standard Testing
- Hypervelocity Impact Testing
Worker safety is paramount. WSTF is one of only about 2000 worksites in the U.S. with recognition as an OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star site. Quality and security are key. WSTF meets stringent ISO-9001 quality and ISO-14001 environmental requirements. In 2019, Booz Allen Hamilton recognized WSTF as one of the most trustworthy NASA facilities for safeguarding information.
Requirements
Requirements which may apply:
- US Citizen
- At least 16 years of age
- Undergraduate or graduate student enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- A letter of recommendation, electronically submitted by the writer directly
- Knowledge of material science, engineering physics, and statistics
- Apply testing criteria in accordance with applicable specifications or standards and evaluate results
- Fully comply with all NASA and client safe work practices and actively participate in all site safety initiatives
- Can pass a vision exam demonstrating color vision and corrected Jaeger J-2 near vision acuity
- Can pass a DISA Background check
- Can pass a Urine/Alcohol/Oral Swab & Hair Follicle Drug Screen
- Standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, handling, fingering, feeling, talking, hearing
- Moving, carrying, lifting, objects weighing up to 50 pounds
- Climbing and working off of ladders, stairs, and scaffolding in excess of 10 feet
- Occasionally working extended hours and standing for extended periods of time
- Work in indoor and outdoor environments in conditions of extreme heat and cold
- Occasionally work around industrial hazards