We are seeking for a dynamic Technical Sales Manager for engineered solutions, who will support the sales team in securing new business opportunities. This position requires a blend of technical expertise, sales acumen, and project management skills. The primary responsibility is to support the sales team and the commercial partners in analyzing technical specifications and generating offers, ensuring that proposals meet client requirements and are competitive in the market.

POSITION DETAILS

• Duration and rate: Permanent, 100%.
• Starting date: from 01 May 2024.
• Workplace: Switzerland.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Sales Support:

• Analyze technical specifications and generate commercial offers.
• Support the sales team in identifying new business opportunities and developing strategic sales plans.
• Conduct technical presentations, training, and demonstrations to prospective clients and commercial partners, showcasing the product capabilities and value proposition.

Marketing Support:

• Generate sales collaterals, including case studies, product brochures, presentations, and technical datasheets.
• Contribute in the selection and arrangement of fairs and trade shows.

Project Management:

• Participate in client meetings and negotiations to address technical inquiries and overcome objections.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field
• Proven experience in technical sales, tendering, or project management within the engineering solutions industry
• Good technical background in electrical engineering
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment and effectively manage multiple priorities.
• Languages: Full professional proficiency in English. French, German or Italian knowledge are welcome.

DESIRABLE SKILLS

• Experience with public orders and tendering processes.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Being part of a company committed in heart and mind to contribute to a sustainable future.
• Dynamic and passionate work environment with flexible working time models.
• Ability to help shape the company as it grows.

POSITION DETAILS

• Duration and rate: Permanent, 100%.
• Starting date: from 01 May 2024.
• Workplace: Switzerland.

CONTACT

Interested? Fill-up our hiring form by clicking here.

For questions and more information, please contact us at hiring@zaphiro.ch.

Project type

• Semester project
• Internship

Contact point

info@zaphiro.ch

Project description and objectives

Security of data is key in the management of energy systems. Collected information can be exploited to attack energy infrastructures and disrupt an entire nation. The aim of this project is to explore the different options to encrypt data at rest with PostgreSQL, compare them in term of ease of use, level of security and performance impact.

Tasks

• Survey and document available solutions.
• Provide a framework to compare them.
• Compare solutions with the aim of defining the best trade-off between security, complexity, and performance.

Required skills

• Basic understanding of encryption.
• SQL knowledge to test and demonstrate different solutions.
• Analytical capacities to survey solutions and compare them.

Other benefits and/or compensation

Depending on the final project type, scope and deliverables, Zaphiro may consider providing additional adequate compensation.

Project type

• Semester project
• Internship

Contact point

info@zaphiro.ch

Project description and objectives

In the field of critical infrastructures, being able to detect security events and prevent and stop attacks is key to guarantee the security of infrastructures such as power grids. SIEMs are solutions that collect logs of events from different sources and facilitate the identification of threats. The scope of the project is to explore the space of open-source solutions providing SIEM functionalities following a Cloud Native approach (i.e., running on Kubernetes).

Tasks

• Survey and document available solutions.
• Provide a framework to compare them.
• Compare solutions with the aim of defining the best trade-off between security, complexity, and performance.

Required skills

• Basic understanding of cybersecurity.
• Analytical capacities to survey solutions and compare them.
• Docker and/or K8S (or strong interest to learn and use them) to test solutions and realize a demo.

Other benefits and/or compensation

Depending on the final project type, scope and deliverables, Zaphiro may consider providing additional adequate compensation.

Project type

• Semester project
• Internship

Contact point

info@zaphiro.ch

Project description and objectives

Offline grid analysis methods can provide great insights on the grid, e.g., what are the components under stress, what’s the optimal placement of PMUs. Different solutions are today available in term of ML or analytical frameworks (typically in Python) for power systems analysis and platforms for leveraging such frameworks to define studies (as “notebooks”) and manage such studies in a reproducible and repeatable way. The scope of the project is to explore the space of open-source solutions providing MLOps (Machine Learning Operations) functionalities following a Cloud Native approach (i.e., running on Kubernetes).

Tasks

• Survey and document available solutions.
• Provide a framework to compare them.
• Select a set of tools to deliver a demo.

Required skills

• Basic understanding of modern machine learning and its operations.
• Analytical capacities to survey solutions and compare them.
• Docker and/or K8S (or strong interest to learn and use them) to test solutions and realize a demo.

Other benefits and/or compensation

Depending on the final project type, scope and deliverables, Zaphiro may consider providing additional adequate compensation.

Project type

• Semester project
• Internship

Contact point

info@zaphiro.ch

Project description and objectives

Modern electrical distribution networks increasingly require advanced monitoring to maintain high-quality power delivery. In line with this, Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are becoming indispensable tools. However, the current generation of PMUs often focuses predominantly on fundamental frequency analysis. This project aims to extend the capabilities of PMUs by integrating harmonic analysis directly into the units in order to increase the types of electrical events that can be detected and analysed on the PMU itself.

Tasks

• Develop New File Formats for Saving on PMU: Currently, PMUs use specific file formats for data storage. This task involves developing additional file formats like COMTRADE and PQDIFF to enhance the PMU’s data compatibility and interchangeability.
• Study Types of Harmonic Analysis: Before diving into implementation, it’s important to perform a comprehensive study on what types of harmonic analysis could be valuable.
• Online Integration: Upon determining the types of harmonic analysis to implement, the next step involves incorporating these algorithms for real-time, online monitoring.

Required skills

• Understanding of Signal Processing Concepts: A foundational grasp of signal processing techniques, particularly those relevant to power systems, is important for understanding and developing harmonic analysis algorithms.
• LabVIEW RT: This project will employ Labview Real Time for algorithm implementation and integration into our PMUs. Experience with this platform is important.
• Basic Software Engineering Knowledge: Understanding the principles of modularity in software design, as well as techniques for robust code testing, will be important for creating maintainable and reliable code.
• Use of GitLab: GitLab will serve as the version control system for this project. Familiarity with GitLab’s features—such as repositories, branching and merge requests.

Other benefits and/or compensation

Depending on the final project type, scope and deliverables, Zaphiro may consider providing additional adequate compensation.

Project type

• Semester project
• MSc thesis
• Internship

Contact point

info@zaphiro.ch

Project description and objectives

As we transition into a more digitally connected era of electrical distribution, Zaphiro Technologies is looking to future-proof its Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs). In the context of this work, we are looking to rewrite part of our codebase in embedded C. This port will optimize our PMUs for increased efficiency, lower power consumption, and more robust operational capabilities.

The primary objective of this project is to develop core functionalities in embedded C that are currently implemented in LabVIEW.

Tasks

• Synchrophasor to C37.118 Conversion Module: Develop a module that can efficiently convert synchrophasor data into a data frame that conforms to the IEEE C37.118 standard.
• UDP Streaming Module: Subsequent to the conversion, create a separate module responsible for streaming these C37.118 compliant data frames via UDP.
• TCP Protocol Support: While UDP is essential for low-latency applications, TCP support is equally crucial for applications that require reliable, ordered data delivery.
• C Applications for Synchrophasor Estimation: Develop applications in embedded C that can perform synchrophasor estimation.

Required skills

• Embedded Linux RT and Embedded C Development: Strong skills in embedded Linux RT (Real-Time) and embedded C are imperative for this project. Prior experience in developing real-time applications would be beneficial.
• Git for Version Control: A good grasp of Git for version control is essential. Experience with branching strategies, pull requests, and resolving merge conflicts will be advantageous.
• Understanding LabVIEW Code: While the primary language for this project is C, understanding LabVIEW is a significant plus.
• Network Protocol Knowledge: Familiarity with TCP and UDP, would be beneficial.

Other benefits and/or compensation

Depending on the final project type, scope and deliverables, Zaphiro may consider providing additional adequate compensation.

Project type

• Semester project
• Internship

Contact point

info@zaphiro.ch

Project description and objectives

The IEEE C37.118.2 communication protocol used in most Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) deployments nowadays does not encrypt the traffic. VPN solutions allow to add an extra layer of security by sending the traffic into a secured tunnel.

Zaphiro’s PMU is based on out-of-the-shelf components (an NI cRIO from NI, an optional router from DIGI, etc). Its modularity, for example, allows to add or remove the router according to the communication technology in place. As of today, it is possible to have VPN tunnels between the router and the destination. However, in all the cases where the communication is wired (e.g., fiber) the router is not present, and the VPN tunnel is not created.

The objective of the project is to integrate a VPN technology inside the NI cRIO device to establish a VPN tunnel also when using wired communication technology. Few VPNs technologies that can be run on cRIO have to be evaluated. The chosen technology has to be implemented and tested.

Tasks

• Evaluate compatible VPN technologies that can be seamlessly integrated into the NI cRIO device for wired communication scenarios.
• Select the most suitable VPN technology based on criteria such as security features, compatibility, and performance benchmarks.
• Implement the chosen VPN technology into the NI cRIO, followed by rigorous testing to ensure secure and efficient data tunnelling over wired connections.

Required skills

• Confidence with command line on Linux systems
• No LabVIEW knowledge required 
• Previous knowledge of VPN is desirable

Other benefits and/or compensation

Depending on the final project type, scope and deliverables, Zaphiro may consider providing additional adequate compensation.