About the Job

🎯 Mechanical Engineering Intern

🌍 London, N4

🏛️ 4 days in our office, up to 1 day working from home

This internship is perfect for current students or recent graduates interested in engineering design, manufacturing and sustainability. Apply now to be part of our mission at Shellworks!

About Shellworks

Developed for a throwaway culture, plastics have caused significant pollution to our natural environments with 90% of all plastics ever created never being recycled. More so, recent studies have identified that plastics impact goes beyond pollution to chemicals and micro-plastics that impact human and environmental health.

We believe there must be a better way and our first innovation Vivomer does just that, if nature made a plastic this would be it. Vivomer, a polymer made by microorganisms, behaves just like plastic in use, but degrades upon disposal in any natural environment. Developed through cutting-edge material science, mechanical engineering, design, and operations, Vivomer represents a groundbreaking step towards a pollution-free future.

The nature of our work is frequently described as impossible, but if like us, you’re driven by the challenge to prove that there is a better way to do things, join us. You will play a critical role in developing the future of materials, how products are created and directly contribute to reducing plastic pollution.

The Opportunity

We’re seeking a proactive, enthusiastic and motivated engineer to help design and the future of sustainable materials and products. In this role, you'll work alongside a cross-functional team of experts in manufacturing, material science, and design to develop plastic-free solutions that replace single-use plastics.

During this placement your time will be split between different projects across the business, including:

• Designing and perfecting new product innovations to address customer demands across different business sectors including NPI (New Product Innovation) and continuous improvement of our existing catalogue products.
• Rapidly prototyping new products, materials and concepts using techniques including 3D printing, machining, compounding and injection moulding.
• Reimaging how we valorise post-industrial material to feed Vivomer back into manufacturing processes and create compelling new applications and products suited to its characteristics.
• Delighting customers with samples, demonstrators, presentations and amazing marketing assets.
• Developing our capabilities to improve the way we implement our engineering best practices and documentation

Key Responsibilities:

• Support new product development and continuous improvement ideation, validation and prototyping.
• Work across supply chain, manufacturing and engineering teams to identify and minimise material loss, developing new methods to test and reuse post-industrial Vivomer materials in different processes and creative applications.
• Learn and operate production-grade polymer processing equipment to explore new material and product characteristics.
• Create and finish prototypes and samples for customers and marketing assets.
• Develop and document best practices
• Interrogate, organise and rework CAD data

Our Ideal Candidate

• Studying for or recently graduated from a Mechanical Engineering or Design Engineering degree, preferably MEng, with a (projected) first or upper second class result (>3.7 GPA).
• Proactive and self-motivated with enthusiasm to learn and immerse themselves in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Hands-on approach to design-make-test engineering, evidenced with design project work.
• Strong mechanical fundamentals with a detailed, analytical mindset and creative approach to problem solving.
• Good 3D CAD skills with a keen eye for the aesthetic and usability requirements of the industries Shellworks works across.
• Proven interest in design, manufacturing and sustainability.

Our Benefits

🌴 21 days holiday + birthday off + 27-31st December, in addition to all statutory and public holidays (pro-rata for the duration of the fixed term contract).
🎉 Regular social events and fully stocked office kitchen
🐚 Part of a tightly knit team aiming to make a meaningful social impact.

Join Our Mission

Becoming a part of Shellworks means being part of a team that’s passionate about sustainability and innovation. Our world-class team includes experts in materials science and visionary entrepreneurs dedicated to creating a better future. Together, we’re redefining what’s possible.

Are you ready to help us lead the way in sustainable materials? Apply now and be part of something truly impactful.