Materials Analysis Intern (Summer 2026)

Vulcan Elements•Research Triangle Park, NC

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Vulcan Elements is manufacturing American rare-earth permanent magnets for a secure, resilient future. With a focus on national security and economic resiliency, we serve critical industries such as defense, aerospace, and automotive powering a high-technology future. Vulcan Elements is building a team of ambitious professionals committed to Mission Focus, Technical Excellence and Transparency. As a Materials Analysis Engineer Intern you will be responsible for supporting materials characterization, data analysis, and process improvement efforts related to rare earth magnet manufacturing. This internship is hands-on and laboratory-centered, combining experimental materials analysis with data-driven interpretation to support manufacturing and R&D activities.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Materials Science & Engineering or Metallurgical Engineering.
Coursework or practical experience in materials characterization techniques.
Familiarity with data analysis using tools such as Python, MATLAB, or similar environments.
Strong attention to detail and willingness to work in a laboratory setting.
Must be a U.S. Person due to required access to U.S. export-controlled information or facilities.

Nice To Haves

Exposure to analysis of metallic or magnetic materials.
Prior experience with SEM, EDS, EBSD, or chemical analysis techniques.
Introductory experience applying machine learning to scientific or engineering data.
Experience working in an academic or industrial laboratory setting.

Responsibilities

Perform materials characterization of rare earth magnet materials using techniques including:
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS)
Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD)
Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
Combustion analysis
Inert gas fusion (O/N/H analysis)
X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
Laser diffraction particle size analysis
Prepare samples for metallographic and chemical analysis, following established laboratory procedures.
Analyze and interpret materials data using conventional statistical methods and introductory machine learning (ML) techniques.
Assist process engineers with analysis of manufacturing process data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
Document test methods, results, and analytical workflows to support traceability and continuous improvement.
Maintain safe laboratory practices when working with chemicals, pyrophoric powders, and analytical equipment.
Responsibilities and tasks outlined are not exhaustive and may change as determined by the needs of the business