Material Engineer/Scientist Intern

Location: Wellington, New Zealand

Type: Full-time, fixed-term internship, paid: $28-32 per hour

Duration: 8–12 weeks (depending on candidate availability): high likelihood of extension beyond the internship

Intake timing:

• • Winter intake (June start): 1 position

  • Summer intake (Nov start): 1–2 positions

(updated on Jun 2026)

What we’re building

Xplora is a deep-tech startup developing a new category of energy storage — a heat battery that stores excess warmth and releases when needed. By enabling long-duration, zero-loss thermal storage, we aim to redefine how the world stores and uses heat. 

Our vision is to move energy beyond boundaries — of time, place, and imagination. 

We is seeking a highly motivated Material Scientist Intern to support the mission. This internship offers hands-on laboratory experience, exposure to real-world material development challenges, and opportunities to contribute to scaling innovative technologies.

Key Responsibilities 

• Assist in material formulation and optimisation for targeted performance 

• Conduct hands-on experimental work, including synthesis, processing, and testing 

• Support analysis of structure–property relationships using experimental data 

• Perform material characterisation (DSC/TGA, SEM, Optical Microscopy, etc.) 

• Support scale-up activities from lab-scale to pilot-scale processes 

• Collaborate across cross-functional teams, including mechanical and commercial teams 

• Maintain laboratory safety standards and follow health & safety protocols 

Who are we looking for? 

• Strong interest in materials science and applied R&D 

• Hands-on experimental mindset with attention to detail and strong understanding of structure-property relationships 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment 

• Open-minded, ambitious, and eager to tackle real-world challenges  

• Confident communicator who can communicate with a cross-functional team 

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field 

• Familiarity with material characterisation techniques (DSC, TGA, SEM, microscopy) is desirable 

If you’re someone who wants more than just a job — who wants to build something that matters and grow as fast as the company does  - let’s talk.

Just send us a note, even a few paragraphs is fine — about why this role sounds exciting to you. Include your CV, or a project you’ve built, or something else that tells your story.

→ Email us at hello@xploraventures.com 

(Please specify your preferred intake timing in your application.)