Responsible for material selection & analysis and support of the mechanical engineering team
Overview
Here, you will first learn about the subsystem you will be part of. We will help you integrate into the team of approximately five members, where you will be shown what problems currently occupy the team. You will then work to come up with solutions to those problems. Working with the team, you will help select new materials suitable for the machine and its subsystems. These materials include not only the machine’s structure and coatings but also supporting materials such as the soil-loosening foam, the tunnel lining material, the adhesives used in critical subsystems, and many more. Finally, you will produce the necessary documentation to proceed with the production phase and support the responsible team members in exchanging with our suppliers. These materials will then be integrated and tested in subsystem and eventually full scale machine tests.
This position is ideal for someone who would like to apply the knowledge they have collected throughout their studies, learn to work in an engineering project group, and gather experience with testing processes and workshop tools.
The following requirements outline the optimal parameters we seek for this position. However, all of them can be learned or extended throughout your experience within the team. We encourage you to submit your application even if you don’t think you meet all the criteria. Your reliability, commitment, and passion for innovation are the most valuable traits we look for.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Main Tasks:
- Work closely with our polymer supply company, Sika, to study and eventually improve the polymer used by the tunnel lining system
- Have an overall knowledge of which materials are in use throughout the whole machine
- Being available for materials-related problems for all the parts of the machine and helping with material analysis, selection, and manufacturing
- Write documentation on which materials are used and why
- Help the mechanical engineering team with manufacturing and maintaining components
- Assemble machine parts and familiarize yourself with your subsystem
Accompanying Tasks:
- Work with third-party partners to find solutions and produce parts
- Attend weekly meetings and working sessions
- Actively contribute to building the association’s culture
Qualifications & Skills:
- Communication and organizational skills
- High availability, commitment to the association’s cause
- Aptitude and self-initiative for rapid decision-making and problem-solving
- Nurture a passion for tunneling and scientific research
- Able to maintain calm when faced with difficulties
- Attention to detail
- Main materials scientist skills:
- Knowledge about materials all around (especially polymers and metals).
- Materials selection: Be able to compare more materials and give competent directions on why one material is more suitable than another.
- General knowledge about materials properties and their meaning for real-life applications.
- Studying Materials science and engineering (or equivalent background)
- Knowledge in the production of components (e.g., welding, milling, laser cutting)
- Having experience in manual work and being handy with tools is recommended
- Prepared to work professionally with industry partners and willing to adhere to the team’s standards
- Fluent in English
Benefits
- You will meet several other skilled and highly motivated individuals and build long-lasting relationships that can endure outside of the association
- You will learn how to adapt different materials to different situations and see how they behave in first person.
- You will have the possibility to work with a highly considered firm in the materials world and learn about/develop the polymer used in the lining system
- You can learn how to manufacture and assemble components in our workshop from experienced members of the team
- You will get the opportunity to meet and exchange with experts from various industries
- You will get the opportunity to conduct a course for excavators or telehandlers and earn the respective licenses
- You will get the chance to participate in Elon Musk’s competition, the Not-A-Boring-Competition, in the Spring of 2025 and exchange with engineers from The Boring Company
Workload
The expected workload is estimated to be around 8 to 12 hours per week, with approximately one or two hours dedicated to meetings and the rest to individual or group work. Depending on the week, you will either attend the team’s working session for around three to five hours or dedicate time at your discretion to designing.
Workplaces
We provide an office and workplace in Zürich at ETH’s Student Project House (SPH) and EMPA in Dübendorf. From day one, you can work independently and take responsibility for your duties and deliverables. During weekly meetings and team working sessions, you must physically attend at SPH or justify your absence to your team lead.
Application
Apply to the team by sending an email to apply@swisslooptunneling.ch or by filling out the form on our website https://swisslooptunneling.ch/join-us/ containing the following information:
- Your CV
- Motivation for applying and position of interest
Please note that SLT is a voluntary research organization and does not offer any paid employment.