Mechanical Engineering Intern – Field Operations

About the role

Synnefa is developing Smart Solar Dryers and greenhouses to reduce post‑harvest losses for African farmers. The Mechanical Engineering Intern will join the hardware team for a six‑month placement, helping to standardise product drawings, bills of quantities, quality control procedures, and field performance data.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare and maintain engineering drawings for the standard product range under version control.
• Document drying chamber designs, airflow paths, ventilation, and fan/component selection.
• Instrument installed dryers, collect temperature, humidity and airflow data, and present results clearly.
• Detail drying beds, racks, and material‑handling arrangements.
• Support thermal and drying performance testing across crops and regions.
• Produce accurate quantity take‑offs, bills of quantities, fabrication drawings, and jig documentation for workshop and subcontractors.
• Inspect sites using quality‑control checklists, record defects, verify delivered materials, and prepare as‑built documentation.
• Submit weekly written reports on site activities.

Required profile

• Recent BSc in Mechanical Engineering (or Agricultural/Biosystems Engineering) completed within the last two years.
• Strong grounding in thermal and fluid concepts.
• Ability to work onsite in locations such as Kericho, Nyandarua, Makueni, and Kisumu.

Required skills

• Proficiency in AutoCAD.
• Experience with SolidWorks, Inventor, or equivalent CAD tools.
• Comfortable using Excel for take‑offs, schedules, and data analysis.