Hydro dome: smart wildfire defense system prototype development - BC-987

Project type: Innovation
Desired discipline(s): Engineering - civil, Engineering, Engineering - computer / electrical, Engineering - mechanical
Company: Carmanah WildFire
Project Length: 6 months to 1 year
Preferred start date: As soon as possible.
Language requirement: English
Location(s): BC, Canada
No. of positions: 4
Desired education level: Master'sPhDPostdoctoral fellowRecent graduate
Open to applicants registered at an institution outside of Canada: No

About the company: 

Carmanah Wildfire is a Canadian emergency services and innovation company specializing in wildfire response, suppression, and resilience technologies. Founded in British Columbia, the company provides private firefighting services, infrastructure protection, and field engineering for wildfire mitigation. Through operational experience in some of Canada’s most fire-prone regions, Carmanah Wildfire identified the critical need for faster, proactive, and infrastructure-integrated community defense systems.

To meet this need, Carmanah is developing the Hydro Dome System, a permanent wildfire suppression tower network. The Hydro Dome combines high-volume sprinklers, smart sensors, and AI-driven water management to protect communities before wildfires arrive.

Carmanah’s team partners with leading Canadian engineers, fire protection specialists, and AI firms to co-develop scalable wildfire defense systems aligned with national resilience goals. The company’s mission is to protect lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems by combining advanced technology with practical fire operations experience.

Describe the project.: 

This project will support the mechanical and electrical design development of a new field-deployable infrastructure system being engineered by Carmanah Wildfire. The goal is to produce practical, manufacturable design concepts for the system’s mechanical linkages, power components, and electrical enclosures.

The intern will work closely with the Carmanah team to:
● Develop and iterate mechanical layouts for fluid and pump assemblies, focusing on fit, durability, and ease of maintenance.
● Design and evaluate mounting systems, couplings, and linkage hardware between major components.
● Plan the integration of electronic and control hardware within compact electrical boxes.
● Assess power supply and generator options, wiring layouts, and safety considerations for outdoor operation.
● Create design documentation and assembly drawings to guide prototyping and future manufacturing.

The emphasis will be on iterative design, modeling, testing, and refining physical configurations that balance technical performance with manufacturability and field reliability. The work will expose the intern to the full process of translating early-stage engineering concepts into applied prototypes suitable for field deployment.

Required expertise/skills: 

We are seeking an engineering student or recent graduate with a background in mechanical, civil, electrical, or mechatronics engineering. The ideal candidate will be comfortable applying general design and research skills typical of their academic training, including:
● 3D modeling and drafting (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent).
● Basic understanding of mechanical assembly and materials.
● Familiarity with electrical wiring, circuit layout, or enclosure design.
● Ability to read and create technical drawings and schematics.
● Strong problem-solving, documentation, and teamwork skills.

Experience with prototyping, shop fabrication, or small-scale systems integration is an asset but not required. Curiosity, attention to detail, and a hands-on approach are the most important qualities for this role.