Software Engineering Intern - CAD/CAE/Tooling

About the role

Sika, a specialty chemicals company active in bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protection for the building sector and industry, is looking for a Software Engineering Intern in Zurich. The intern helps improve and experiment with engineering projects that combine CAE/CAD tools with cloud and on-premises platforms, aiming for better Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) efficiency. The work sits at the intersection of CAD/CAE and software, alternating between operational systems and proof-of-concept developments.

Key responsibilities

• Support 3DEXPERIENCE REST APIs, including data definition and integration with systems such as Databricks or direct point-to-point connections
• Design, build and maintain low-code workflows in Synera linking CAD, CAE and other tools (tooling layout optimization, engraving optimization)
• Configure, test and develop custom applications, validate data flow, document lessons learned and help the IT Application Owner (Automotive) evaluate new development paths
• Analyze CAD/CAE data formats, model them in diagrams and propose first solutions
• Write scripts for pre- and post-processing and small automation tasks
• Do basic work on Azure infrastructure (VMs, storage, compute for simulation jobs), estimate costs, and optionally support Google Cloud deployments
• Prepare datasets from CAD/CAE results and support surrogate-modeling and design-space exploration experiments
• Write runbooks, user guides and short demos for engineering users
• Example assignments include part similarity search, AI-driven concept design with surrogate models, a rule-based part analysis web app (React/Next.js), and migration of a finance application from SQL Server + MS Access to a modern web app

Required profile

• MSc. in Mechanical, Computational or Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science or a related field; MSc. students in their final semester are also considered
• Analytical mindset, clear written communication, ability to read and draw technical and business diagrams
• Business awareness and the ability to judge task value independently in a fast-changing environment

Required skills

• Basic CAD/CAE knowledge (modeling concepts, common tools and solvers, structural FEA simulation)
• Basic Python (scripting, pandas/Polars, NumPy, Streamlit/Flask)
• Practical understanding of LLMs and their enterprise constraints
• Basic Git and Linux/Unix command line (including WSL2)
• Nice to have: web development basics, SQL/PostgreSQL, 3DEXPERIENCE/CATIA/SIMULIA or low-code tools (Synera, n8n), REST APIs, Terraform, network basics, C++, JavaScript/TypeScript, React

Only direct applications are considered. Competitive salaries aligned with local market benchmarks and the scope of the role are offered.