Overview

Come build community, explore your passions and do your best work at Microsoft with thousands of University interns from every corner of the world. This opportunity will allow you to bring your aspirations, talent, potential, and excitement for the journey ahead.

The Device Analysis Engineering (DAE) team is responsible for solving some of the most challenging materials, reliability, and failure-analysis problems across Microsoft's hardware portfolio, including Surface, Xbox, Cloud Hardware, and emerging technologies. You will work alongside world-class engineers and scientists using advanced analytical capabilities to investigate product reliability issues, develop innovative materials solutions, and influence future product designs.

As a Materials Science Intern, you will conduct hands-on research in materials characterization, corrosion science, electrochemistry, and reliability engineering. You will work on high-impact projects involving sustainable packaging materials, corrosion mechanisms, and electronic reliability of advanced hardware systems. This opportunity will allow you to accelerate your research experience in an industrial environment, develop expertise in advanced analytical techniques and failure analysis, and gain exposure to the complete product development lifecycle from materials selection through field reliability. The role offers a hybrid work opportunity with a combination of on-site laboratory work and remote collaboration.

Materials Science Interns at Microsoft help develop the scientific understanding needed to improve hardware reliability, sustainability, and product quality. Intern projects involve advanced materials characterization, chemical analysis, accelerated reliability testing, root-cause investigations, and predictive modeling. Interns work on real-world engineering challenges while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, product development, manufacturing, supplier quality, and research organizations.

At Microsoft, Interns work on real-world projects in collaboration with teams across the world while having fun along the way. You'll be empowered to build community, explore your passions, and achieve your goals. This is your chance to bring your solutions and ideas to life while working on cutting-edge technology.

Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Conduct laboratory research involving materials characterization, corrosion analysis, electrochemical testing, and reliability evaluation.
• Design and execute experiments to investigate sulfur outgassing, corrosion mechanisms, electrochemical migration, and electronic materials reliability.
• Utilize advanced analytical techniques such as SEM/EDS, XRF, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, ion chromatography, Gas chromatography, thermal analysis, and optical microscopy.
• Develop accelerated test methodologies and correlate experimental observations with material properties and failure mechanisms.
• Analyze and interpret complex scientific data, develop predictive models, and communicate findings through technical reports and presentations.
• Collaborate with engineers, scientists, and product teams to translate research findings into actionable engineering recommendations.
• Document experimental procedures, results, and conclusions while following established engineering and laboratory practices.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Chemistry, or a related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in materials characterization, corrosion science, electrochemistry, reliability engineering, or closely related disciplines.
• Experience designing and executing experimental research and analyzing technical data.
• Must have at least one additional quarter/semester of school remaining following completion of the internship.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience involving corrosion, electrochemical migration, electronic materials, packaging materials, polymers, or reliability testing.
• Experience with characterization techniques such as SEM/EDS, XRF, FTIR, Raman, XRD, thermal analysis, ion chromatography, gas chromatography, or related methods.
• Experience with statistical analysis, data science, material modeling, or reliability modeling tools.
• Strong technical communication skills demonstrated through publications, conference presentations, or research reports.

This internship is ideal for PhD candidates passionate about applying fundamental materials science to solve real-world hardware reliability challenges and influence the next generation of Microsoft devices and technologies.

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.