Engineering Internship: UV Sterilization Equipment Prototyping Location: Rangamalai Organic Farm, India (with potential for remote collaboration on specific tasks) Partner Organizations: VakeWorks AB (Sweden) & Rangamalai Organic Farm (India) Internship Overview Join a pioneering R&D project at the intersection of engineering, food safety, and open-source technology. We are seeking a motivated engineering intern to help design, build, and test a prototype UV sterilization system. This hands-on role is central to our mission of creating scalable, accessible technology that allows small-scale producers to meet the world's highest food safety standards. You will be instrumental in developing a solution that shortens the value chain for spices like pepper, enabling farmers in India to export directly to consumers in Sweden and the EU. Key Responsibilities · Design & Prototyping: Collaborate with engineers and life science experts to conceptualize and create functional UV sterilization prototypes using CAD software and machining/tooling systems. · Experimental Testing: Conduct experiments to determine the minimum effective UV exposure time for sterilizing dry spices (e.g., pepper). This includes designing test protocols and analyzing results. · Microbiological Validation: Assist in preparing samples inoculated with bacteria (e.g., Salmonella) and coordinate with local labs to test the prototype's sterilization efficacy. · Data Analysis & Documentation: Collect, analyze, and document experimental data to iteratively refine the prototype. Present findings and progress in regular team meetings. · Deliverables: Produce technical diagrams and a fully functional, working prototype. All final designs will be released under an appropriate Open Hardware License. Your Profile & Qualifications · Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field. · Strong proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360) and/or hands-on experience with machining, fabrication, and tooling. · Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. · A passion for sustainable technology, open-source innovation, and making a tangible impact on public health. · (Bonus) An interest or basic understanding of microbiology and experimental design. Project Details & Our Philosophy · Open Source Commitment: The final prototype design and specifications will be released under an Open Hardware License. This ensures that small fabricators and producers everywhere can build, use, and improve upon the technology, fostering community-driven innovation. The specific experimental data (e.g., exposure timings) may remain proprietary to the partners. · Support: You will have access to necessary equipment and a stipend for lab testing. The work is subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). · Stipend: A monthly stipend is provided, based on mutually agreed-upon deliverables and progress, to be finalized during the interview process. About the Partners VakeWorks AB: A Swedish collaboration between farmers, researchers, and consumers dedicated to creating radically transparent, direct-from-producer food systems. We leverage systems research and thinking to build regenerative and resilient living systems. Our activities span regenerative agriculture, data science, AI, and education, including annual workshops and semester courses for PhD students across major Swedish universities. · Website: https://www.vake.works/ · People: https://vake.works/people/ Rangamalai Organic Farm: An organic farm in India focused on sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices, producing high-quality native seeds spices and other edibles. · Farm Website: https://manvasanai.in · Farm Store: https://www.goodfoodtoall.com
Company Description VakeWorks is a company that aims to use systems research and thinking from an algorithms-machines-lives-planet perspective to create regenerative and resilient living systems that are economically profitable and beneficial to society and the planet. The company conducts, facilitates, and enables production, research, development, teaching, and training activities through regenerative approaches to agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, agritourism, and health, as well as consulting and teaching activities in knowledge-intensive areas, including data science, data engineering, machine learning, mathematics, statistics, AI, natural resource management, and therewith compatible activities. VakeWorks’ Indian subsidiary company will focus on unique strengths of its parent company in Sweden around radically transparent food networks and on those of its partnering farms with high-value natural products for domestic and international markets with its in-house information technologies giving a digitally provable trace of the entire supply chain down to soil, labour, ecosystem, carbon and more. Role Description This is a part-time hybrid role, located in Chennai, that allows for flexibility in working from home but involving travel from time to time. We are looking for an Indian Director (is required to be a citizen of India) who is responsible for leading the company's growth while representing and promoting the company's brand and operations in India in an all-in-one executions managerial capacity. The role requires successfully positioning the company as an ethical change agent in Indian and international society, ensuring compliance with Indian laws and guidelines, and working with cross-functional teams to prioritise and achieve company goals. The Indian Director & Executions Managing Officer is responsible for overall customer satisfaction, business expansion, operational accounting, import-export operational management, managing research-intensive educational programs for Indian and European students, and increasing profitability of the Indian branch while working closely with other directors, Chief Operating Officer and employees in the Swedish branch who are based throughout Europe. Compensation is based on experience OR willingness to learn and prove oneself in Q4 of 2025 and preference is given to those interested in models of co-ownership and co-foundership as opposed to stake-free salary. VakeWorks is a tiny multi-national company built entirely by bootstrapping with 100% of its revenues reinvested (about 85 lakh INR from 2019 to 2026). This role is for an ambitious but patient entrepreneurial leader interested in whole systems change towards transparent and healthy food systems. Those not interested in the "long game" (10 year time scale) need not apply. As Indian Director, the role has standard legal responsibilities for VakeWorks India Private Limited under Indian corporate laws. Qualifications & Details At least 5 years of experience leading and managing a team, particularly in India OR willingness to learn under entrepreneurial one-on-one mentorship by the Swedish team with Indian consultants and prove oneself in Q4 of 2025 Demonstrated experience in growing and scaling a division or business unit in India, preferably in agribusiness, environmental sustainability, transparent food systems, or related area OR having such aspirations and the demonstrable potential to experience it Demonstrated leadership experience in areas such as business development, marketing strategy, operations and P&L management. Experience with marketing and sales to rural and underserved communities would be a plus Proven success in recruiting, developing, mentoring and retaining high-performing leaders & teams throughout an organisation or the willingness and ability to do so with some mentoring Strong ability to build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders with different cultures, languages, and backgrounds A willingness to take calculated risks, and a deep passion for social and environmental sustainability Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration or any relevant degree from an accredited institution; Master's degree would be a plus. Having a degree is not a prerequisite for the position. Strong communication and interpersonal skills that showcase cultural competence as well as the ability to inspire, motive and lead the team Fluency in English and Tamil is required along with excellent verbal and written communication skills. Fluency in HIndi or other Indian languages is desirable. Strong preference will be given to applicants who take the time to make the application here or by emailing raazesh@vake.works with Subject line "Indian Director 2025". For more information about the company see: https://www.vake.works/pledge and for trademarked pathways in the European Union until 2035 see https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/019181858