R&D Engineer Intern - Engineered Binders

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title :

Internship offer

R&D Engineer Intern

Engineered Binders

 Business Unit and Location

 Holcim Innovation Center, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier                                                                                           

Department

 Cement

WHO IS HOLCIM?

Holcim is the leading partner for sustainable construction with net sales of CHF 15.7 billion in 2025, creating value across the built environment from infrastructure and industry to buildings. Headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, Holcim has more than 50 000 employees in 45 countries – across Europe, Latin America and Asia, Middle East & Africa – and has been recognized as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute. Holcim offers high-value end-to-end Building Materials and Building Solutions, from foundation and flooring to walling and roofing – powered by premium brands including ECOPact, ECOPlanet, ECOCycle, and Ytong.

WHO ARE HOLCIM PEOPLE?

Holcim people are passionate about finding better ways to build. They embrace innovation and improvement with a pioneering spirit. They work as trusted partners, creating better solutions and experiences for their customers, communities, and colleagues.

YOUR HOLCIM EXPERIENCE

At Holcim, there are endless opportunities for you to play your part. Whether you’re in a technical, managerial, or frontline role, you can shape a career that works for you. With us you’ll have the chance to embrace the passion we share for our planet. You’ll be encouraged to seek out diverse perspectives, share your ideas and build the skills and connections you need to perform at your best. Because it’s only when we work together in a culture where everyone thrives that we can build the world we all want to live in. To find out more, visit www.holcim.com/careers. 

The Holcim Innovation Center focuses on enhancing the performance, cost-efficiency, and sustainability of our cement production processes globally. The strategic adoption of advanced process additives is crucial for accelerating our low-carbon transition.

This mission is vital to reinforce our in-house expertise, allowing us to accurately tailor and develop optimized additive blends for our global operations. As an intern, you will be a key contributor, bridging advanced formulation design and cement performance testing.

You will join our R&D teams to design testing programs, understand the action mechanisms of next-generation admixtures, and optimize the overall properties of low-carbon cement.

MISSIONS:

Reporting to the R&D Study Manager, your main responsibilities will include:

• State-of-the-Art & Literature Review:
  • Conduct an in-depth external literature and internal review (including patent searches) to identify innovative chemical pathways and support formulation strategies.

• Formulation Development & Optimization:
  • Develop and optimize next-generation formulations of admixtures and blends, exploring complex combinations of advanced chemical molecules.
  • Execute laboratory work to design, blend, and ensure the physicochemical stability of new complex liquid additive formulations.

• Strategic Performance Testing & Characterization:
  • Design and carry out physical and rheological testing programs on cement and mortar to evaluate admixture efficiency and understand their action mechanisms.
  • Evaluate formulation efficiency under process conditions (e.g., during grinding) and assess their effects on macroscopic cement properties (e.g., flowability, strength development).
  • Support the physicochemical characterization of multi-component admixtures to ensure stability and analyze interactions within complex cementitious matrices.
  • Interpret chemical and physical data to link molecular structures to overall macroscopic cement performance.

• Operational Support & Process Standardization:
  • Act as a pilot technician / operator during specific trial phases.
  • Document validated formulations, testing methods, and critical parameters, contributing directly to the Group's internal technical guidelines for additive handling and blending.
  • Synthesize findings into actionable technical recommendations for business units.