Job description
Posting Title
Undergraduate or Graduate (Year Round) Intern - Building Systems Engineering.
Location
CO - Golden.
Position Type
Intern (Fixed Term).
Hours Per Week
Job Description
NLR's Site Operations Architecture and Engineering Support group is looking to hire an Engineering student that has CAD/Revit experience. This position provides support for the Engineers and CAD Operators within the group and works on multiple projects and work orders concurrently at NLR's two main research campuses; South Table Mountain and the Flatirons Campus Site.
The Intern will provide drafting/design support to the engineering team, project managers using AutoCAD software to ensure that the multi-discipline documents prepared meet all criteria of the NLR CAD Manual. Assist in maintaining BIM/Revit standards and models for NLR.
This position will provide an opportunity to build versatile skillset in the system design and construction industry and have direct collaboration with senior licensed professional engineers and subject matter experts.
Job duties include
- Proficient use of CAD software to create detailed drawings that include dimensions, procedures and required materials. Uses views and angles to show the association between systems and components.
- Coordinates the collection of data and incorporates such information into drawings, maps and schematics, while consulting with engineers, architects, project managers and other workers involved to prepare and present drawings. Works closely with the engineering, scientific, and design teams to ensure effective project coordination.
- Takes care of complex drafting and designing assignments and reviews drawings for accuracy and completeness. Maintains all revisions of project drawings. Organizes and maintains project drawings, files, and related information.
- Works with NLR Project Managers to ensure all drawings and record documents from on-going and past projects have been incorporated and archived. Proficient communication skills and attention to detail required.
- Creates drawings and models from verbal and written specifications that are obtained from the project engineer. Examines and checks engineering drawings to comply with cited specifications. Conducts drawing reviews as appropriate for completeness and accuracy.
- Works with engineers regarding drafting standards, model design and accuracy, and design documentation. Performs quality reviews, trouble shoots and assists with AutoCAD program.
- Follow all ESH&Q policies and procedures to ensure and maintain a safe working environment.
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills to produce drawings and plans that are organized, clear, easy to read and technically accurate
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Basic Qualifications
Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor's degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor's degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master's degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Graduate: Earned a master's degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate + PhD: Completed master's degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.
Please Note
* Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts, as part of the application process.
* If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- AutoCAD proficiency
- Ability to read construction drawings
- Effective time management and organizational skills
- Effective communications skills
- Detail oriented
- Familiarity with Revit, Microsoft Office and FTP software
- Revit MEP proficiency
- Ability to work on multi-disciplined projects as needed
- Ability to field verify drawing information as needed
- Familiar with Navisworks
Preferred Qualifications
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Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $39,600 - $63,400NLR takes into consideration a candidate's education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee's salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.* Based on eligibility rules
Badging Requirement
NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.# Drug Free Workplace
NLR is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NLR, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NLR you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
E**-Verify [www.dhs.gov/E-Verify**](http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify) For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.
E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.
Pay & benefits
About this role
About National Laboratory of the Rockies
Company Overview
National Laboratory of the Rockies, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory
HeadquartersGolden, CO, United States
Founded1977
SizeApproximately 3,700 employees including staff, postdoctoral researchers, interns, visiting professionals, and subcontractors (source: wikipedia.org)
What They Do
The National Laboratory of the Rockies is a federally funded research institution focused on applied energy research and development across the entire energy system, including generation, distribution, and end use (source: nlr.gov). Its work spans a broad range of energy technologies such as solar, wind, renewable fuels, vehicle systems, buildings, geothermal, energy sciences, computational sciences, and energy analysis (source: nationallabs.org). The laboratory also hosts specialized centers including the National Center for Photovoltaics, the National Bioenergy Center, and the National Wind Technology Center, which support focused research and innovation in their respective fields (source: wikipedia.org). As a Department of Energy national laboratory, it operates under a federal contract and serves public-sector and industry partners by developing technology and de-risking emerging energy systems (source: nlr.gov).
Projects & Track Record
The laboratory has a rich history of impactful projects, including the development of SEA-Stack, a wave-energy technology screening and design tool that helps companies rapidly evaluate concepts to reduce time and cost in marine energy innovation (source: nlr.gov). It also supports the BOTTLE Consortium's chemical oxidation recycling platform, which aims to enable scalable processing of contaminated, mixed, and multilayer plastic waste, addressing critical challenges in sustainable materials management (source: nlr.gov). The National Laboratory of the Rockies operates the National Wind Technology Center in Colorado, a key facility for advancing wind energy technologies, and maintains a presence in Washington, D.C. to support policy and stakeholder engagement (source: nlr.gov). These projects demonstrate the lab's leadership in renewable energy research and its commitment to accelerating clean energy solutions nationwide.
Recent Developments
In December 2025, the Department of Energy officially renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to the National Laboratory of the Rockies, reflecting its evolving mission and regional identity (source: nlr.gov). Throughout 2025 and 2026, the laboratory remained active in advanced energy research, with announcements highlighting progress in marine and wave energy technologies, plastic recycling innovations, and quantum-related materials research (source: nlr.gov). However, the lab also underwent workforce reductions, laying off 134 employees in February 2026 following earlier cuts of at least 114 employees in May 2025, reflecting organizational adjustments amid evolving funding and program priorities (source: cpr.org).
Working There
The National Laboratory of the Rockies offers a diverse range of roles spanning research, software and computational science, lab operations, engineering, project management, communications, and administrative support, all within a federally funded R&D environment (source: techjobsforgood.com). Employees benefit from comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, 403(b) retirement savings plans with employer match, pension eligibility, disability coverage, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities (source: nlr.gov). The campus in Golden, Colorado, provides on-site wellness resources, including a fitness center, cafeteria, coffee shop, meeting spaces, and open-space trails, fostering a collaborative and flexible workplace culture that supports early-career development and work-life balance (source: nlr.gov).
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