Internship: Assembling and Testing of Equipment for DAC Sorbent Lifetime Analysis

WE ARE SKYTREE

Skytree is engineering the CO₂ transition by building machines to capture CO₂ from the air and repurpose it for good: whether it’s reused across different industries or stored permanently.

Our DAC technology transforms atmospheric CO₂ into a valuable resource: powering applications like renewable fuels and chemicals, greenhouse operations, beverage carbonation and water treatment.

Our modular DAC machines and unique DAC Park architecture allow us to deploy in any climate, at scale - empowering more industries to switch to a circular CO₂ source and contribute to a cleaner planet.

With more than 10 years of applied research starting at the European Space agency, we have the engineering excellence and the patented technology to enable the shift towards decarbonization. Our machines are already hard at work, capturing over 10M tonnes of CO₂ by 2030.

Take a moment to read more about our values and life at Skytree on our Careers Page.

THE PROJECT

Skytree builds modular and scalable technology for Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 to combat climate change. As part of that technology, we design, develop, and build filters for CO2 capture using a sorbent material. Depending on the conditions of incoming air, the conformation of the filter, and the operating time, the DAC performance may decrease over time. However, our machines need to operate for extensive periods of time in the field without our filter material losing its performance. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the influence of different factors (temperature, pressure, etc.) on the sorbent lifetime. 

To do so, we have built a custom setup for accelerated lifetime testing, as well as a setup for performance testing of our DAC sorbents. Based on use of these setups, we have identified areas for improvement in performance, accuracy, and user-friendliness of these systems. We have designed the next generation of the set-up for lifetime analysis. In this internship project, the goal is to work together with the Testing and Infrastructure Engineers team on assembling the set-up, developing control software, designing and performing test routines and getting the set-up ready to be handed over to the RnD team. 

YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT BY

• Building novel experimental equipment: assembling the gas supply, vacuum system and electrical components, designing, running and documenting the testing procedures. 

• Creating user-friendly control software: the setup will be controlled by a custom-built software (built in DAQFactory SCADA suite). Part of this internship project will be to build the software operating sequences, design the UI and optimize the automation routines. 
  

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Gain real-life hands-on experience building hardware and software for a novel experimental set-up.

• Get exposed to a cutting-edge science of DAC sorbent materials through daily interactions with a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. 

• Understand the inner workings of a dynamic clean-tech startup that prioritizes scientific and engineering excellence. 

• Internship duration- 3-6 months, full-time, 40 hrs a week.

• Start date - September 2025

• This position does not meet the criteria for employer sponsorship, therefore we are unable to support work permit or residency applications.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• You have completed or are in the midst or at the end of a Master’s degree in:

  • Either a technical discipline (electrical engineering, automation, mechanical engineering etc.)

  • Or a software engineering/computer science discipline.  

• You are hands-on, have two right hands, enjoy working in a lab and like tinkering with electronics and hardware. Having proven experience is a plus. 

• Experience with or understanding of data analysis (Python), CAD software or SCADA systems is a plus. 

• You enjoy cross-disciplinary challenges which require creative thinking.

• You have an open-mind and enjoy working as part of a diverse, multi-cultural team.

• You are a good communicator and can write clear, concise technical documentation.

• You are proficient in English, both verbally and in written form.

• You are not in need of work permit / visa sponsorship
  

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

• An opportunity for professional and personal growth in one of the most innovative cleantech start-ups in Amsterdam!

• A diverse and international team

• A cozy office located close to the Science Park train station, also close to the highway

• Access to the Science Park and Amsterdam University cafeterias (and all the great and healthy meal options)

• A monthly lunch allowance

• Regular social activities hosted by our very own Champagne Committee

QUESTIONS?

Need some more info, or simply have a question for us? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Please send an email to niels.jordens@skytree.tech and I will get back to you!