Research & Development Intern - Adv. Mechanics + ML Simulation

Job Title: Research & Development Intern: Adv. Mechanics + ML Simulation

Date: 2027

Reports to: Senior Scientist for Analytics

Would you like to work for a company where ambitious spirits and creativity thrive? L&L Products offers a culture that grows talent and flourishes with innovation. It is a place where you are encouraged to take control of your own professional development by using L&L’s extensive training opportunities to craft solutions to the industry’s hottest problems. Here is where quality of work, product and relationships are a priority. 

L&L Products is built on the basic philosophy that good people working together, listening to each other’s ideas with an open mind and everyone wanting to do a little better each day will ensure our success. Our existence is full of wise principles, sacrifices and victories, laughs, and lasting memories that tell exactly who we are. How we came to be the great company, the caring family that we are today.

What you’ll do: As an R&D Intern, you’ll work in a modern Research Laboratory environment and gain experience in a diverse product line.

Duties / Responsibilities of this position: 

• Learn the basics of structural simulations through finite elements using LS-DYNA by model setup and post-processing simulation results. Adapt current material models for material properties that include accumulated, nonlinear damage and element failure.
• Plan and execute new testing methods with collaboration of mechanical test lab personnel to extract advanced material data using digital image correlation (DIC) studies that allow the reverse-engineering of material properties (e.g. dependency of failure strain on triaxial stress state and Lode parameters). The focus of this may be coupling newly developed physics informed neural networks with mechanics based inverse methods. 
• Collect, analyze and transform mechanical test data from analog sources (crosshead, strain gage) as well as digital-visual (DIC) systems to determine optimal use in mechanical property determination. This may include the use of machine learning models (neural networks, etc.) to reverse engineer accurate simulation damage and failure parameters.
• Build appropriate coupon level finite element models for correlating model to measurement by comparing predicted vs. measured responses.

Job Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in (B.S., M.S.)  Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science/Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Applied Mechanics/Math, Physics, or related STEM field.
• Coursework in Mechanics of Materials needed with additional course-work in numerical methods such as Finite Element Analysis and Materials/Polymers beneficial, but not required.
• Competence with a technical computing language such as MATLAB, python, C, or R needed.
• Will be using Altair HyperWorks, LS-DYNA, LS PrePost for FEA simulation (prior experience not expected, but desire to learn needed)
• Versed in scientific methods, laboratory apparatus, and communication skills.
• Highly organized; able to manage and prioritize multiple tasks concurrently.
• At the end of their internship, the student will understand current methods and practice of advanced material models used in CAE analysis and have experienced the most modern techniques available for polymer and adhesive modeling.

Competencies: 

• Quickly acquires domain knowledge and can apply it to open‑ended problems.
• Designs and analyzes experiments and draws defensible conclusions to accomplish research goals.
• Works effectively with R&D teammates, CAE team, Materials/Analytical Lab incorporating feedback and shares knowledge.
• Plans work, prioritizes tasks, and meets milestones in a 12–14 week internship.
• Proposes improvements to models, experiments, and workflow automation.
• Leadership

Physical Demands Analysis: 

• Light to moderate lifting may be required.
• Continuous computer work, keyboarding, computer mouse, and computer monitor
• Rare climbing stairs, bending, and stooping.
• Personal Protective Equipment Requirements (PPE): safety shoes, safety glasses, cut-resistant gloves, hearing protection, and other PPE.

Equal Opportunity Employer

L&L Products does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, weight, height, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. L&L Products will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in undue hardship.