Navy Mechanical Engineer/Ocean Engineer Internship

This opportunity takes place at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit (NEDU) in Panama City, Florida. NEDU's mission is to conduct manned, unmanned, and biomedical research; develop, test, and evaluate diving, hyperbaric, life support, and submersible systems and procedures; and ensure all diving equipment and procedures meet the safety standards and operational requirements to expand the U.S. Navy’s advantage during any undersea military operation. NEDU is equipped with the United State's largest research hyperbaric chamber complex for wet and dry hyperbaric/diving operations, a 55,000 gallon test pool, and state-of-the-art physiological research facilities. For further information, please visit https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/SUPSALV/NEDU/

NEDU utilizes its unique shore based hyperbaric diving systems to conduct all manned and unmanned diving research on behalf of the Department of Defense. The Engineering Department is charged with the maintenance, operation, and modernization of these hyperbaric systems and also conducts limited engineering related research in support of military diving. Under the guidance of a mentor, the prospective candidate will review of all relevant engineering documentation, manuals, and AutoCAD drawing files in NEDU’s possession to support the establishment of a configuration management program for NEDU’s hyperbaric diving systems. In addition, the candidate will support all Engineering Department maintenance and modernization project endeavors. NEDU is establishing a Configuration Management Plan (CMP) to provide organizational and managerial guidance and direction for all of NEDU’s unique diving systems. Configuration Management (CM) is defined as a management process for establishing and maintaining consistency of a product’s performance, functional, and physical attributes with its requirements, design and operational information throughout its life. The objectives of CM are to identify and document the characteristics of a Configuration Item (CI); to control changes to these characteristics; to provide information on the status of change action; and to audit and review the item for compliance with contractual and identification requirements.

The candidate will:

Engineering activities at NEDU will expose the candidate to all aspects of mechanical engineering practice to include, hyperbarics, diving physics, diving physiology, materials science, hydraulics, pneumatics, heat transfer, electrical power, electronic controls, project develop, design engineering, engineering report writing, and project estimation and budgeting. 

This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by NEDU. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.