Sandia National Laboratories

Critical Skills Recruiting Program: Earn a Degree and Launch a Career at Sandia

The Critical Skills Recruiting (CSR) program at Sandia National Laboratories pairs graduate education with immediate employment, offering participants a fully funded master’s degree, a living stipend, and a guaranteed R&D position upon graduation. The initiative targets high‑need fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, aerospace, and energy. Participants receive hands‑on experience through summer internships, work on mission‑critical projects, and are integrated into multidisciplinary teams that span nuclear deterrence, transportation security, and satellite communications. Students repeatedly cite the program’s “all‑inclusive” nature—no second job, day‑one hire status, and access to a national alumni network—as a confidence boost. One participant described the experience as “peace of mind” and highlighted the ability to focus solely on research and coursework. By guaranteeing talent pipelines for critical skill sets, Sandia strengthens its capacity to address complex national security challenges while offering a replicable model for other research institutions seeking to attract and retain top engineers and scientists.