Process Engineering Intern

Process Engineering Intern

Start date target: July 2026
Mission / role summary: Provide support in the design, modeling, automation, and reliability improvements for pilot systems (reactors, flows, controls) to scale biomineralization toward industrial readiness. Focus on mechanical / fluid systems, automation integration, and ensuring robustness of pilot operations.

Key Responsibilities

  • Assist in the design and sizing of reactors, flow networks, piping, pumps, valves, instrumentation, fluid handling subsystems.

  • Support the development of control / automation strategies: sensor integration, SCADA, data acquisition, feedback loops.

  • Run computational fluid dynamics (CFD), hydrodynamic modeling, mass / heat transfer modeling as needed.

  • Help in instrument selection, sensor calibration, piping layout, and mechanical design under supervision.

  • Prepare process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and process documentation.

  • Support reliability engineering: fault mode / failure mode analysis, predictive maintenance, robustness checks.

  • Assist in commissioning, debugging, and optimization of pilot systems.

  • Work with R&D, geochemistry, and data teams to integrate measurement loops and ensure process–MRV alignment.

  • Document design decisions, simulation results, assumptions, and routine operating procedures (SOPs).

Requirements / Profile

  • Engineering student (undergraduate or master’s level) in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, process engineering, fluid mechanics, or a similar field.

  • Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat & mass transfer, reaction engineering.

  • Proficiency in modeling tools (CFD, process simulators), mechanical CAD (e.g. SolidWorks, AutoCAD), flow/hydraulic modeling.

  • Some knowledge or experience with instrumentation, sensors, control systems, automation, PID control is a plus.

  • Analytical mindset, attention to detail, ability to learn quickly.

  • Good communication skills, ability to document clearly, work in an interdisciplinary environment.

  • Ideally, prior internship or coursework in bioprocessing, environmental / water / reactor systems, or pilot-scale systems.