Internship: Pump Development for Arctic Sea Ice Restoration

Hydromea seeks an onsite intern in Lausanne to develop pump systems for Arctic sea ice restoration, focusing on testing, simulation, and design iteration.

This internship places the candidate at the intersection of climate technology and mechanical engineering. The primary objective is to advance pump prototypes designed for restoring Arctic sea ice, ensuring these systems perform reliably in extreme environments through rigorous testing and simulation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct experimental tests on existing pump prototypes to evaluate their performance and analyze the resulting data.
• Pinpoint areas for improvement and refine the design based on test outcomes.
• Build or assist in constructing a specialized test bench tailored to the project's specific requirements.
• Utilize simulation tools to compare predicted model outputs with actual measured performance, identifying discrepancies.
• Investigate alternative system configurations to broaden the company's technical knowledge base.
• Collaborate with the engineering team at Real Ice to align on field requirements and share test findings.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a Bachelor's or Master's program in Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Solid grasp of fluid dynamics principles.
• Practical experience or a strong enthusiasm for prototyping, fabrication, and experimental testing.
• Fluent proficiency in English.
• Residence in the Lausanne area or willingness to relocate, as the position is strictly onsite.

Nice to have

• Ability to communicate in French.

What the company offers

• Engage in meaningful engineering work that directly supports deployed climate solutions.
• Gain hands-on experience with Hydromea's hardware, facilities, and underwater system expertise.
• Work closely with engineering teams from both Hydromea and Real Ice.
• Experience the complete product lifecycle, from simulation and prototyping to field testing.
• Potential opportunity to participate in Arctic field tests.

About the company

Hydromea operates in a dynamic environment where self-direction and clear communication are essential. The company values pragmatic problem-solvers who can navigate uncertainty and deliver practical results while collaborating across multiple engineering teams and with end customers.

• Emphasis on being organized and self-directed within open-ended projects.
• Value placed on clear communication across cross-functional engineering teams.
• Culture of curiosity and pragmatism, focusing on making things work in real-world conditions.