R&D Circular Economy Internship

Toyota Motor Europe; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Company restaurant

Sport facilities

Team building activities

Team building

Well-being programs

Job summary

A leading automotive company in Belgium is seeking a motivated intern to support their Circular Economy team. This involves building databases, improving IT tools, and researching new technologies for sustainable vehicle practices. Ideal candidates are students in engineering or business fields with strong analytical skills and a passion for sustainability. The internship lasts 6 months and requires fluency in English, with a multicultural work environment and flexible hours offered.

Qualifications

• Student in higher education with at least two years of completed study.
• Proactive personality and comfortable working independently.
• Passion for innovation and creating value for customers.
• Genuine passion for innovation and creating customer value.
• Sustainability mindset related to circular economy is a strong plus.
• Digital competence: strong Excel and Power BI; basic Python coding is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Build a comprehensive Circular Economy database for mass-production and future parts.
• Improve and maintain an IT Tool for Circular Economy scenario planning.
• Investigate technologies that enhance circular economy performance.

Skills

Fluent in English

Strong Excel skills

Power BI skills

Basic coding experience (Python)

Education

Engineering Science, Business Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Materials Engineering

Tools

Python

Job description

Shape the future of sustainable mobility by driving circular economy strategy analyze materials, build data tools, and support next-gen vehicle sustainability innovation at Toyota

Get to know your team and responsibilities

The Technology Strategy & Planning Division (TSP) is responsible for European R&D strategy, digitalization planning, Circular Economy (CE) and Carbon Neutrality strategy, and leads advocacy on Battery LCA, End‑of‑Life Vehicle (ELV) regulations, and the evolving regulatory landscape related to vehicle circularity.

In the area of Circular Economy, TSP defines and leads the global R&D CE strategy, linking material roadmaps to parts and vehicle development. The division proposes future vehicle circularity targets that incorporate technological trends, regulatory evolution, and cost‑efficiency considerations. TSP also develops the processes and tools needed to track progress and support the achievement of these targets throughout the product lifecycle.

Your project

During your internship, you will support the Circular Economy (CE) team within the Technology Strategy & Planning Division on the following key activities:

• Build a comprehensive Circular Economy database for mass‑production and future parts, including material breakdown, recycled content, cost, and production conditions.
• Improve and maintain an IT Tool used for Circular Economy recycled‑content scenario planning for future vehicles. This includes enhancing data on recycled content per material, cost impacts, feedstock availability, and other key parameters. The goal is to enable flexible, accurate scenario modelling that can be quickly adjusted based on changing forecasts and market conditions.
• Investigate new and innovative technologies that can enhance circular economy performance in automotive parts and vehicles. Analyse notable circular economy advancements from the automotive sector and other industries, and assess their relevance to upcoming EU sustainability legislation.

Who are we looking for?

Your profile

• You are a student in higher education with at least two years of completed study, ideally in Engineering Science, Business Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Materials Engineering.
• You are fluent in English (spoken, written, and reading); proficiency in additional languages is a strong asset.
• You have an open, proactive personality and are comfortable working independently within a multi‑cultural, international business environment.
• You have a genuine passion for innovation and for creating value for customers.
• Sustainability mindset: Coursework or experience related to sustainability and/or the circular economy is considered a strong plus.
• Digital competence: Strong Excel and Power BI skills for technical data analysis and reporting; basic coding experience (Python) is a strong asset.

Duration

• 6 months

Confidentiality

Due to business requirement, not all performed projects can be reflected in the internship report. This issue needs to be discussed with candidate/school in advance.

It is mandatory that applicants are students for the entire period of the internship.

We can only accept students with an EEA or Swiss citizenship (not requiring a work permit or visa to be eligible to perform an internship in Belgium)

Our offer

We offer a dynamic multicultural work environment with broad opportunities to learn every day and exciting career pathways that help you explore different disciplines or areas of expertise.

• Flexible working hours and hybrid working (homeworking, 10 days from abroad);
• Company restaurant – Warm dishes, salads and desserts daily, including Japanese and traditional Belgian specialties, as well as a vegan/vegetarian option;
• Sport facilities – Tennis, squash, volleyball, football and softball pitches are available at various Toyota sites;
• Team building activities and other personnel related events;
• Programs to support your physical and social well‑being.

A truly diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace

At Toyota Motor Europe, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all. All our recruitment decisions are based on the individual and their qualifications along with the job requirements. The selection process is without regard to nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, ethnicity, disability or other personal characteristics. We do not tolerate harassment or discrimination as our individual experiences and overall diversity is our key strength. Together we have the power to make a positive change and go beyond the ordinary.