JOIN US!

JOIN US!

The Impetus Sailing Team is getting ready for its fourth  season 2026/2027. As the new semester starts we are looking for passionate people who want to join us and shape the future of sustainable high performance boats with us.

JOIN US!

The Impetus Sailing Team is getting ready for its fourth  season 2026/2027. As the new semester starts we are looking for passionate people who want to join us and shape the future of sustainable high performance boats with us.

Apply here

Who we are looking for

Are you passionate about sailing and sustainable innovation? Perfect! No prior experience in boatbuilding is required – what matters most is your initiative, willingness to learn, and team spirit.

What we offer:

  • Hands-on experience in a unique student project
  • Collaboration with experts and researchers
  • The chance to help design and build high-performance sustainable sailing boats

Join us and become part of the Impetus Sailing Team! 

APPLY FOR OUR SUBTEAMS!

Engineering

Analytics

Sustainability

Manufacturing & Testing

Operation

Sponsoring

Brand

Analytics & Control

Want to develop an active flight control system for our moth or want to help develop a monitoring system for all our boots?

Apply now!

Foils

Want to design and develop our foils? Help us with the FEM, CFD, CAD and manufacturing concept!

Apply now!

hull

Help us with the FEM, CFD, CAD and manufacturing concept of a new hull structures!

Apply now!

Manufacturing & testing

Prove that our concepts work! Help with testing and validation of our manufacturing techniques or help with material optimization and process reliability checks

Apply now!

Marketing & Branding

Help us to become more visible! Manage our social media presence, create promotional material or become the next cameraman for our SuMoth Vlogs!

Apply now!

Operations

Keep everything running smoothly! Support logistics, team coordination, and ensure the project stays on track.

Apply now!

Recycling & sustainability

Close the loop! Develop and test our sustainable solutions for materials and processes to ensure our goal of circularity.

Apply now!

sponsoring

Fuel our progress! Connect with partners, secure resources, and help build lasting relationships that drive innovation.

Apply now!

wings

Design, optimize, and test wing concepts that balance efficiency, performance, and style.

Apply now!

Recruiting Timeline

Apply now via the link on this page – we will then invite you to a short personal interview. Make sure to apply early to secure a spot for your desired position. Don’t worry – you don’t need to be an expert. Motivation, commitment and a willingness to learn are what matter most to us.

Visit us at the TUM Student Initiative Showcase at TUM Stammgelände and get in touch with the team in person. A great opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for who we are before you apply.

Join us at the Studium in Garching from 4pm. We will give you an introduction to the team, show you around and take you through our current production phase – a great chance to see the boat up close and meet the people behind it

Meet us at the TUM Sustainability Day and find out more about our mission of Engineering Maritime Circularity.

On this day we will let you know whether you are joining the team. We will reach out personally to inform you about the outcome.

If you received an invitation – welcome to Impetus! We are looking forward to having you on board and kicking off the new season together.

FAQ

No, we are an international team, german is fine but so is english!

Since we want to achieve big things, at least one full working day per week is necessary. The more time you have the better. 

No! If you have sailing experience that’s a plus but it’s not necessary. Some members are sailors and some have never sailed before!

We are generally open to all munich universities (Mainly: TUM, HM & LMU). We offer different recruiting phases for each uni as the semester times are slightly different. Of course it’s possible to apply within an HM recruiting as a TUM student or vice versa. Generally: if you think you could be a great fit and you have time on your hands to work on our projects – reach out anytime!

Please simply apply for the position you’re most interested in. Raise your interests in the interview and we will try our best to bring you on the sub-team and position you can do your best work!

ENGINEERING

Design our foiling moth from the ground up. From the first sketch to the final laminate – you shape the boat that Impetus puts on the water.

What we do:

We design every part of the boat: Hull geometry, foil profiles, wings, rig and sail plan. Our work spans the full design process, from concept and simulation through to the structural design of the physical components. We validate our designs computationally before they get built, and we work with sustainable materials to make sure high performance and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

Typical tasks:

  • Design and optimise hull, foil, wing and rig geometry in CAD
  • Run structural analyses (FEM) and fluid simulations (CFD) to validate and improve designs
  • Design the laminate structure – fibre orientation, layup sequence, core materials
  • Work with sustainable materials including basalt fibre and recyclable resin systems
  • Translate simulation results into buildable designs

What you bring

  • Background or strong interest in mechanical engineering, aerospace, naval architecture, or a related field
  • Experience or curiosity in CAD, FEM, CFD or structural composites
  • Analytical mindset combined with a desire to see your work physically built
  • No prior experience in boatbuilding required – motivation and willingness to learn count most

ANALYTICS

Build the intelligence behind our boat. Design the systems that keep our foiling moth flying – from sensors and electronics to the full control architecture.

 

What we do:

We develop the complete electronics and control systems of the boat – from individual sensors and PCB design through to the flight controller and telemetry. Our work sits at the intersection of hardware and software, and directly influences how the boat behaves on the water.

 

Typical tasks

  • Design and develop the active flight control system
  • Build and test sensor systems for height, pitch, roll and speed
  • Design custom PCBs for onboard electronics
  • Develop telemetry systems to capture and transmit live performance data
  • Work on embedded software and real-time control logic
  • Analyse performance data and feed insights back to the engineering team

 

What you bring:

  • Background in electrical engineering, mechatronics, robotics or computer science
  • Interest or experience in embedded systems, sensor design or PCB design
  • Programming skills (Python, C/C++, or similar)
  • Analytical mindset and enjoyment of hands-on electronics work

SUSTAINABILITY

Make Impetus truly circular. Research sustainable materials and processes, advise the engineering team on material choices, and help us understand where we still have room to improve.

 

What we do:

We research and develop circular solutions for our boat – in the lab and on paper. We work closely with the engineering team to evaluate and recommend materials at the design stage, and we drive our Life Cycle Assessment to give the whole team a clear picture of our environmental footprint.

 

Typical tasks: 

  • Conduct lab-based research into circular and sustainable material solutions
  • Advise the engineering team on material selection – fibres, resins, core materials
  • Develop and maintain the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of our boat and processes
  • Evaluate bio-based, recycled and low-impact alternatives to conventional materials
  • Communicate findings internally and to external partners

 

What you bring:

  • Background in sustainability, chemistry, materials science, environmental engineering – or a combination
  • Interest in bridging high performance and environmental responsibility
  • Analytical approach and enjoyment of research and lab work
  • Optional: Experience with LCA tools or sustainability frameworks

MANUFACTURING & TESTING

Test, build and improve. This team develops and validates the materials and processes behind our boat — and works hands-on to bring designs from concept to reality.

What we do:

Building the boat is a team effort – every Impetus member works hands-on during the construction phase. But in Manufacturing & Testing, you go beyond just building: you research, test and develop the methods and materials that make our construction possible and better each season. You work across a range of tools and processes, from CNC machining and 3D printing to composite lamination and woodworking.

Typical tasks

  • Test and characterise materials — fibres, resins, core materials and laminates
  • Work hands-on with composites – lamination, infusion, mould work
  • Operate CNC machines and 3D printers for parts and tooling
  • Work with wood and other materials for prototyping and structural components
  • Test new materials and manufacturing techniques 
  • Validate process reliability and document results for future seasons
  • Collaborate closely with Engineering and Sustainability on material decisions

What you bring

  • Enjoyment of hands-on, practical work
  • Interest in composites, manufacturing processes or materials engineering
  • Willingness to experiment, iterate and document
  • No prior experience required – curiosity and reliability matter most
  • Optional: background in mechanical engineering, chemistry or materials science

OPERATIONS

Keep Impetus running. Operations makes sure that everything behind the scenes – from our website to our boats – is in good shape.

 

What we do: 

Operations is the backbone of the team. We handle everything that keeps Impetus functional and organised: Our IT infrastructure and website, the logistics of competitions and events, the physical maintenance of our boats, and the coordination that holds the team together. We also manage our recruiting process and make sure new members find their way into the team smoothly.

 

Typical tasks:

  • Maintain and develop our website and IT infrastructure
  • Coordinate event logistics – competitions, open days, showcases and team events
  • Organise and manage the physical maintenance and storage of our boats and equipment
  • Manage our recruiting process – from outreach to onboarding new members
  • Keep internal processes running smoothly so the rest of the team can focus on the boat

 

What you bring:

  • Structured, reliable and solution-oriented way of working
  • Enjoyment of coordinating and organising across different areas
  • Basic IT affinity – experience with WordPress or similar is a plus but not required
  • Ability to stay on top of many parallel tasks without losing the overview

SPONSORING

Find the partners who believe in what we do and build relationships that go beyond a logo on a boat.

 

What we do:

Without our sponsors, Impetus would not exist. We research and approach potential new partners, maintain and deepen existing relationships, and represent the team professionally in all external business communication. We also support the creation of sponsoring packages and pitch materials together with the Brand team.

 

Typical tasks:

  • Research and identify potential new sponsors and partners
  • Write and send outreach messages and follow-ups
  • Maintain regular contact with existing sponsors and keep them updated on our progress
  • Represent Impetus in meetings and external communications
  • Collaborate with Brand on sponsoring decks and presentation materials

 

What you bring:

  • Confident, professional and friendly communication style
  • Interest in business development, partnerships or external relations
  • Ability to write clear and compelling messages
  • Optional: Background or experience in sales, PR or corporate communications

BRAND

Shape how Impetus is seen outside. From our visual identity to race-day footage – you make sure our story is told well.

 

What we do:

We are responsible for everything Impetus puts out into the world – visually and editorially. That means developing and maintaining our corporate identity, designing print and digital materials, and running our channels on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. We are especially looking for people who want to get behind the camera and create compelling video content from trainings, regattas and team moments.

 

Typical tasks:

  • Maintain and develop our corporate identity (CI) across all touchpoints
  • Design visual materials – flyers, presentations, sponsoring decks and digital graphics 
  • Film and edit video content for Instagram Reels, YouTube and team documentation
  • Capture photos at trainings, regattas and events
  • Manage and grow our Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn presence
  • Plan and schedule content independently and proactively
  • Write reports, press articles and editorial content for external publications and media outlets

 

What you bring

  • A good eye for design and visual storytelling
  • Interest or experience in videography and video editing 
  • Familiarity with design tools (Adobe Suite, Canva or similar)
  • Proactive and independent working style
  • Optional: drone experience, or animation skills