Internship Project
Start-Ups: Scientific Research and Engineering

Spark e-Fuels – Hands-on Pilot Plant Engineering: From Design to Operation (Power-to-X)

Institution
Science & Startups
Subject Area
Chemistry, Engineering & Technology, Sustainability & Environmental Studies
Availability
03 May – 23 July
17 May – 06 August
31 May – 20 August
14 June – 03 September
 
Internship Modality:
On-site internship in Berlin
 
Project Supervisor(s)
Dr. Julia Bauer (Co-Founder & CTO)
 Ayse Avuka (Pilot Plant Engineer)
Academic Level
  • Advanced undergraduate students (from the second year)
  • Master’s students

Language
English
Further Information
Project Type
Start-Up
Project Content
Based in Berlin, Spark e-Fuels develops innovative Power-to-X technologies to defossilize the aviation, chemical, and refining industries. Our mission is to efficiently convert renewable carbon sources into syngas, sustainable fuels, and green chemicals, establishing a viable alternative to fossil value chains. At the heart of our work is a proprietary platform designed for flexible syngas generation. Our advanced Reverse Water-Gas Shift (RWGS) technology transforms CO₂ and green hydrogen with high yields while dynamically adapting to fluctuating renewable energy supplies. This operational flexibility can reduce the need for seasonal hydrogen storage at a system level by up to 90%. Having advanced from fundamental lab validation to pilot-scale testing, we have already demonstrated integration into a complete Power-to-Liquid route via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.
Joining us means contributing directly to validating, operating, and scaling real-world hardware that bridges green chemistry with industrial climate impact.

Tasks for Interns
You will act as an engineering right-hand to our plant and facility operations manager in our technical center. According to project availability at the time of the internship, you will be directly involved in the engineering lifecycle of custom chemical and process test rigs—spanning everything from early-stage conceptual design to hands-on mechanical assembly, commissioning, and operational troubleshooting.

Key Responsibilities & Activities:
  • Technical Literature & Benchmarking Research: Investigating existing academic studies, industrial patents, and technical standards to evaluate best practices.
  • Process & Basic Engineering: Supporting the technical design and iteration of experimental setups and pilot units, including drafting and updating Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), fluid dynamic calculations, and component sizing.
  • Procurement & Technical Sourcing: Assisting with vendor coordination and technical specifications for specialized parts (valves, instrumentation, sensors)
  • Hands-on Assembly & Commissioning: Working directly on the shop floor to assemble, pipe, leak-check, and commission test stands and pilot systems.
  • Automation & Data Acquisition: Writing and adapting control scripts and reaction recipes (Python or LabVIEW)
  • Testing, Operations & Maintenance: Supporting daily test campaigns, routine maintenance, sensor calibrations, and continuous optimization of plant reliability and safety protocols.

This role offers a unique 50/50 split between engineering desk work and practical workshop experience, giving the intern end-to-end exposure to real-world pilot plant engineering within a fast-moving, innovative environment.

Academic Level
  • Advanced undergraduate students (from the second year)
  • Master’s students

Requirements
Above all formal qualifications or grades, we are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic, and resilient team member. Much of the specific engineering work can be learned on the job. What matters most is your drive to get your hands dirty and solve practical problems:
  • Pragmatism & Adaptability: Comfortable with shifting priorities typical of pilot-scale R&D, where setups evolve and unexpected technical hurdles arise.
  • High Safety & Quality Awareness: Working with pressurized systems and high-temperature equipment requires caution, diligence, and respect for laboratory safety standards.
  • Hands-on Affinity: Prior experience with mechanical tools, assembling hardware, laboratory test rigs, or workshop tasks is a plus, but you can learn this on the job. You should, however, enjoy doing things with your own hands rather than just staying behind a screen.

Academic & Technical Profile:
  • Field of Study: Enrolled student in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Technical Chemistry, or a related technical discipline.
  • Technical Fundamentals: Basic grasp of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, or reaction systems, with an eagerness to learn how to read and draft P&IDs and technical schematics.

Nice-to-Haves (Great, but absolutely not required):
  • Basic CAD experience (3D modeling or 2D technical drawings).
  • Familiarity with P&IDs and process components
  • Working knowledge of German (helpful for interfacing with local suppliers but not mandatory).

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For more information on the Humboldt Internship Program or the project, please contact the program coordinator.