Nuclear Systems Engineering Intern

Job Description:

AMA is currently accepting applications for a motivated intern to support ongoing reactor technology development planning for space reactor applications with a team of engineers beginning Summer 2026. The qualified candidate will be a senior undergraduate or graduate student with research experience related to advanced nuclear systems. A background in reactor design for space nuclear applications, such as nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), nuclear electric propulsion (NEP), or fission surface power (FSP), is preferred. In addition to completing the application on our website (www.ama-inc.com), candidates selected for an interview will be required to provide two or more references. The hourly rate for this position is $25-$30/hr and is commensurate with experience and education.

Responsibilities:

• The successful applicant will assist AMA’s nuclear systems team in planning and technology development activities related to NTP, NEP, and/or FSP reactor development.

  • The applicant will perform literature review, develop models, and perform data analysis to define the design space and identify knowledge gaps

  • The applicant will assist in the development of presentation and reporting materials to NASA and related agency stakeholders

  • The applicant will be responsible for presenting and communicating technical data to an internal multidisciplinary team comprised of nuclear and systems engineers.

• Possible tasks that applicants will support include: NTP or NEP reactor physics and thermal hydraulics modeling, space reactor development planning, or NTP radiation physics modeling.

Requirements:

• Completion of at least three years of an undergraduate degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related STEM field with a strong background in reactor/radiation physics.

• Experience with using MATLAB, Simulink, C++, or Python for performing engineering analyses.

• Self-motivated with good communication skills and desire to work in a highly motivated team environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering.  The ideal candidate would be a graduate student or an undergraduate with prior internship or academic experiences performing nuclear engineering research.

• Technical writing experience with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to a diverse disciplinary team.

• Experience in neutronic and/or thermal hydraulic analyses of novel reactor designs and familiarity with space reactor concepts.

• Experience performing reactor and radiation physics calculations in MCNP, Serpent, OpenMC, Geant4, SCALE, DAGMC, or equivalent.

• Experience with the MOOSE framework and its custom applications, such as Cardinal, Bison, Griffin, etc.

• Experience with finite element analysis using developed software, such as OpenFOAM, ANSYS, COMSOL, etc.

• Previous exposure to or research experience related to NTP, NEP, or FSP.

• Experience working with governmental agencies, such as NASA, the Department of Energy, or the Department of Defense.

Candidates must be US citizens or US permanent residents

Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is proud of our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees' career satisfaction. AMA is a small business with a wide reach; headquartered in Hampton, VA, AMA has operations in Greenbelt, MD; Huntsville, AL; Dallas and Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Mountain View, CA; and Edwards Air Force Base, CA. With over 60 years of experience, AMA specializes in aerospace engineering, science, analytics, information technology, and visualization solutions. AMA combines the best of engineering, science, and mathematics capabilities with the latest in information technologies, visualization, and multimedia to build creative solutions. We offer competitive salaries and a substantial benefits package, including but not limited to paid personal and federally recognized holiday leave, salary deferrals into a 401(k)-matching plan with immediate vesting, tuition reimbursement, short/long term disability plans, and a variety of medical, dental, and vision insurance options.AMA is committed to the professional growth of every employee, understanding that the successes of our employees drive our success. We provide a work environment that is engaging, collaborative, and supportive. To learn more about our company, please visit our website at www.ama-inc.com/careers and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

AMA is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited under federal, state, or local laws.