What are the responsibilities and job description for the R&D Systems Control Intern (Unpaid Internship) position at EnergyX?
Energy Exploration Technologies has a mission to become a worldwide leader in the global transition to sustainable energy. Founded in 2018, the company is fundamentally changing the way humanity is powering our world and storing clean energy with breakthrough lithium-ion technologies and energy-storage solutions.
The Role
We are seeking a highly motivated and technically capable intern to join our interdisciplinary engineering team. This unpaid internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced R&D environment, directly contributing to the design, automation, and optimization of a novel roll-to-roll lithium deposition platform. This internship will start on a rolling basis until we find the right candidate. Candidates must be open to a term between 10-12 weeks. Ability to support part-time or full-time schedules.
During this internship, interns will gain:
- hands-on experience with cutting-edge lithium extraction and deposition technology
- Exposure to real-world development of scalable battery manufacturing systems
- mentorship from engineers and scientists with deep industry knowledge
- potential pathways to future employment opportunities as the company grows
Key Responsibilities
- Support the development and testing of motion control and drive systems for ultra-low RPM roll-to-roll equipment.
- Assist with PLC programming, microcontroller scripting (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi), and integration of motor drivers, sensors, and feedback loops.
- Collaborate with mechanical and chemical engineers to implement real-time control strategies that maintain foil tension and deposition uniformity.
- Contribute to the automation of fluid handling, voltage/current regulation, and safety interlocks in electrochemical environments.
- Analyze sensor data and develop simple GUIs or dashboards for live system monitoring.
- Participate in system troubleshooting, documentation, and iterative design cycles.
Required Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Chemical, or Systems Engineering program.
- Experience with control systems, embedded programming (Python, C/C ), or PLC ladder logic.
- Familiarity with DC motor drivers, stepper motors, servo systems, or sensor integration (load cells, encoders, thermocouples).
- Strong problem-solving mindset and willingness to work in a hands-on lab setting.
- Ability to communicate clearly and work collaboratively with a cross-functional R&D team.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with roll-to-roll systems, motion control tuning, or industrial automation platforms.
- Exposure to battery materials, electrochemical systems, or materials processing is a plus.
EnergyX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with EnergyX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
