R&D Engineer - Eco-Construction & Materials

Overview

As the world’s global leader in innovative and sustainable building materials, Holcim is reinventing the way the world builds. Supported by a 70,000+ strong global team spread across 70 markets and four industry segments, we are committed to shaping a greener, smarter and healthier world.

As we continue to look for more sustainable ways to build, we need world-class talent to join our team. People who are passionate about sustainability, driven by curiosity and keen to grow, learn, develop and thrive in our high-performance culture.

Biodiversity has been a key pillar of the company’s sustainability strategy for many years. The Holcim Group has taken actions to ensure biodiversity restoration of its 600+ extraction sites. The group is expanding its vision to develop innovative products that support the development of valuable ecosystems and improve the biodiversity in Urban and Marine environments. Today, the Group is willing to reinforce this position and is looking for new talents to develop this further.

Urban areas have microclimates that are different from the surrounding rural ones. They tend to be significantly warmer in comparison, a phenomenon recognized as the urban "heat island" effect. Consequences include excess energy expenditure, air pollution emissions and threats to human health. Integrating vegetation into architecture has become widely recognized as a beneficial practice to mitigate the urban heat island effect and is one of the key elements of this program.

Coastal areas, and specifically coral reefs, are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. With 40% of the world population living within the coastal zone there is a lot of pressure on this area. The Maritime industry and infrastructure has changed the coastal zone drastically. New innovative solutions are required to protect these areas against the loss of ecosystems from rising sea levels, climate change and human activity. By developing solutions that contribute to building with nature, we aim to protect the coastal areas against erosion and flooding and rehabilitate their ecosystems at the same time.

The Innovation engineer will operate from one of the best Global Innovation Centers on construction materials - Holcim Innovation Center (HIC) near Lyon, France. The engineer, specialized in eco-materials and ecological engineering, will support specific projects in the above areas, by bringing his/her expertise in the characterization and the optimization of the material performances, in short and long-term. Within the Innovation teams, the engineer will be working on material and construction systems research projects, in a typical timeframe of 1 to 3 years before the solution is transferred to the market.

Responsibilities

• You will develop, share and communicate scientific knowledge on bioactive building systems, advanced material and construction processes (e.g. eco-designed precast shore protection revetments, Green (quay) walls, functionalized Artificial reefs, …) and actively participate in Holcim innovation roadmap
• Ensure a scientific and technological watch on biodiversity restoration systems for Maritime and Urban environments.
• Identify innovative avenues for improvement of material and systems impact on biodiversity (selective colonization, speed of colonization, robustness of the positive effect…) with conservation of structural/durability functions
• Work together with subject matter experts on nature based (engineering) solutions for both the Maritime and Urban environments.
• Lead the development of key ecological indicators to measure and ensure the scientific backbone of the innovation is established.
• Define innovative constructive methodologies applying the eco-design materials to eco-designed systems (dry-cast precast elements, double wall…)
• Interface with Certification Organizations for the development of and acceptance of new testing protocols.
• Collaborate efficiently with internal R&D project team members as well as with key external partners, including academics, to develop partnership for the development of new solutions and methodologies.

Your impact :

• You contribute to the development of a new generation of integrated infrastructures in their environment.
• You bring your expertise to the service of the Group and help local teams differentiate.
• You contribute to the reputation of the Innovation Center internally and externally.

Education/Qualifications

• Education : PhD in Ecological Engineering, knowledge in Material and/or Civil Engineering is a plus.

Experience

• Experience : Post doctorate with experience in the eco-design field.
• International background is a plus, with experience abroad and in multi-cultural environments; Fluent English is mandatory, Fluent in French would be a plus.

Knowledge & Skills

• Technical skills : Eco-design, building materials, bio receptivity materials (e.g. vegetalization, biogenic…), Life Cycle Analyses
• Soft skills : Innovative problem solving capabilities, open-minded, team player, result-oriented, ability to quickly learn new competencies, excellent oral and written communication skills.

Language Requirements

Fluent English is mandatory, Fluent in French would be a plus.

Local / International

Local Employment