R&D Internship
EsriEsri's R&D Center-Zurich is looking for skilled, creative interns to work on early-stage prototype software and methods in the GIS space. The internship lasts five or six months, is full-time and paid, and includes two weeks of vacation. It’s an onsite opportunity in Zürich, ideal for someone who wants hands-on experience in a forward-thinking tech setting. The team welcomes interns who enjoy research and development and who want to contribute to real projects in a global company.
At the Zurich lab, the work spans web, desktop, and game-engine based software for geographic information systems, urban planning, and architectural design. The projects are built around 3D graphics, and the workflow features rigorous testing and a DevOps-driven CI/CD pipeline on an in-house platform, connected to a worldwide infrastructure used by millions of users.
The R&D team is international and collaborative, with a culture that prioritizes training, team development, and inclusive communication. The environment values diversity and offers a 40-hour week with flexible hours, a competitive salary, and opportunities for enjoyable team activities.
Shaping the project, step by step
Interns pick or define a focused project in the area of 3D Web GIS, covering spatial analysis, web cartography, or web apps, or in UI/UX design. You’ll start by surveying the current state of the art and looking at real-world use cases, then design a plan and share it with your supervisor and teammates. As you begin implementing the plan, you’ll offer regular updates to the team and build out the work toward a tangible finish. When you’re done, you’ll document what you built, create showcase videos, and present your results to the group. There’s also an option to contribute to daily development tasks within one of the Scrum product teams as a secondary track.
What you’ll need to bring and what helps you stand out
The role looks for a practical mix of technical know-how and personal drive. You should have hands-on web development experience, plus a background in UI/UX design. A passion for open-source work is helpful, and self-motivation with a responsible, self-directed mindset matters too. Good written and spoken English and/or German will help you collaborate with the team. You’ll need to be enrolled in or have completed a BSc or MSc in computer science, architecture, GIS, or UI/UX design, and you must already have work authorization for Switzerland.
- Experience building web applications or interfaces
- Background in user interface and user experience design
- Interest in contributing to open-source projects
- Self-driven, responsible, and self-motivated
- Strong verbal and written communication in English and/or German
- Currently pursuing or having completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, architecture, GIS, or UI/UX design
- Existing work authorization to work in Switzerland
Nice-to-haves include familiarity with Esri’s ArcGIS product suite and an interest in street design, urban planning, civil engineering, or architecture.
- Experience with Esri’s ArcGIS software
- Interest in urban design, civil engineering, or architecture trends
Pay, benefits and practical details you should know
The internship is paid and runs full-time with a 40-hour work week and flexible hours. It's based onsite in Zürich, and there are two weeks of vacation. The team emphasises a supportive, inclusive culture and offers opportunities for professional growth through training and team development events, along with occasional fun team activities. Esri is part of a global organization based in California, focused on GIS and spatial analytics.
Applicants should be aware that Esri is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or protected veteran status. If accommodation is needed in any part of the process, there is a dedicated contact for requests.
Advice for applicants you can use now
Lead with a project-forward resume that puts your intended internship work at the top, especially any 3D Web GIS or UI/UX design work you’ve done.
Show how you meet the must-have skills by linking to concrete web development projects and a UI/UX portfolio, and highlight any open-source contributions you’ve made or participated in.
In interviews, be ready to explain how you would select or define your internship project, the design approach you’d take, and how you’d implement and demonstrate progress with regular updates and showcase deliverables.
When you have the chance to ask a question, ask about which 3D Web GIS use cases matter most to the team and what an effective internship showcase would look like, including any preferred formats for the final presentation.