About Swellcycle

Swellcycle is building a new way to make high-performance products—one rooted in advanced manufacturing, thoughtful materials, and systems designed to last. Using large-format 3D printing and circular processes, we work with designers, brands, and builders to create products that are durable, customizable, and built for real-world use, with respect for the environments they move through.

We’re a small, fast-moving team with huge ambitions. This role is for someone who feels connected to the ocean, cares about how things are made, and wants to help shape how value and revenue flow through an early-stage company with purpose.

Role Overview

The Sales & Customer Success Lead owns the full commercial journey at Swellcycle—from first contact to repeat customer. You’ll generate new projects, convert inbound leads, manage wholesale and partner relationships, and serve as the primary bridge between marketing, customers, and production.

You are the main outward-facing voice of the company, ensuring what’s sold can be built, delivered, and supported at a high level.

What You’ll Do

• Source and close new opportunities across custom products, B2B projects, wholesale accounts, and collaborations
• Own all inbound leads and guide customers through pricing, customization, timelines, and ordering
• Manage customer relationships from sale through delivery, ensuring clear expectations and strong communication
• Maintain and grow wholesale and partner accounts, coordinating pricing, forecasting, and reorders
• Create and customize sales materials including pitch decks, one-pagers, blurbs, and brochures
• Adapt marketing assets into compelling, customer-specific sales narratives
• Coordinate closely with production to confirm feasibility, timelines, and clean handoffs
• Track leads, deals, and revenue; contribute to weekly and monthly updates

What We’re Looking For

Required

• 3+ years experience in sales, account management, or customer success
• Proven ability to close deals and manage relationships end-to-end
• Strong written, verbal, and in-person communication skills
• Experience creating sales decks and customer-facing pitch materials
• Ability to explain technical or custom products clearly
• Highly organized with strong follow-through and an ownership mindset

Nice to Have

• Experience with high-performance or design-driven products
• Familiarity with custom manufacturing or advanced materials
• B2B or wholesale sales experience
• Startup experience
• Familiarity with Google Slides, Figma, or Canva

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent flow of qualified new projects
• High inbound lead conversion
• Strong customer satisfaction and repeat business
• Predictable wholesale coordination
• Clean, surprise-free production handoff

Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Commitment: ~20 hours/week (business hours)
Compensation: Unpaid, with perks

About us

Swellcycle is reimagining the surf industry by developing sustainable, 3D-printed surfboard cores made from bio-based materials. We're based in Santa Cruz and collaborate with local shapers, surfers, and technologists to push innovation while keeping the ocean at the heart of everything we do.

We’re offering a hands-on Composite Research and Development Internship designed to give students or early professionals exposure to sustainable product development, advanced surfboard manufacturing, and closed-loop material recycling.

As part of the internship, you’ll learn Swellcycle’s full production process, from 3D-printed surfboard cores to final glassed boards ready to ride. You’ll also be introduced to the way we turn waste (like failed prints, fiberglass offcuts, and resin trimmings) into new composite materials. This internship includes training in product quality testing at different stages of manufacture.

Interns will work closely with our engineering and operations team and gain experience in sustainable manufacturing, R&D, and circular material systems.

What You’ll Learn & Do

• Learn how 3D-printed surfboard cores are designed, printed, and assembled
  
  
• Understand the steps of the glassing and finishing process
  
  
• Participate in our recycling workflow: shredding waste, compression molding, and composite development
  
  
• Assist in product testing for quality, strength, and durability
  
  
• Help track data on materials performance and production workflow
  
  
• Gain exposure to experimental materials and sustainability R&D projects
  
  

Who You Are

• Curious and hands-on, with interest in fabrication, design, and sustainability
  
  
• Comfortable working in a workshop environment (we’ll train you in safety protocols)
  
  
• Organized and proactive, with a willingness to learn new skills
  
  
• Available during weekdays (Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm) for up to 20 hours/week
  
  
• Bonus if you have experience with 3D printing, resin work, or product testing

What You’ll Gain

• First-hand training in sustainable product development and circular materials
  
  
• Real experience in advanced manufacturing techniques used in performance surfboards
  
  
• Mentorship and collaboration with an experienced team of designers and makers
  
  
• Portfolio-worthy exposure to process documentation, materials testing, and recycling workflows
  
  
• Access to Swellcycle classes and opportunities to try our surfboards
  
  
• Swellcycle gear and occasional product perks
  
  

How to Apply

To apply, submit your CV and a cover letter via the job posting below.

Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Commitment: ~20 hours/week (business hours)
Compensation: Unpaid, with perks

1. Overview

SwellCycle is seeking a Recycling & Circular Manufacturing Intern to support and learn from our circular manufacturing and recycling initiatives. This internship is designed as a hands-on, educational experience focused on understanding and participating in the full lifecycle of recycled materials — from breaking down manufacturing waste to transforming it into new, functional products.

The role combines practical shop-floor work, engineering experimentation, and sustainability thinking, offering exposure to real-world circular economy implementation within surfboard and composite manufacturing.

2. Scope of Work

The intern’s responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Learning SwellCycle’s recycling workflow, including:
• Identifying and sorting manufacturing waste
• Breaking down failed or end-of-life printed parts and materials
• Preparing materials for shredding and reprocessing
• Assisting with shredding and material preparation processes
• Supporting the transformation of recycled materials into new products or components
• Documenting recycling processes, learnings, and material outcomes
• Assisting with basic inventory tracking of recycled materials
• Participating in continuous improvement discussions around waste reduction and circularity
• Traveling regularly to Peninsula Precious Plastic, where part of Swellcycle’s recycling process takes place

3. Learning Objectives

By the end of the internship, the intern will have:

• A practical understanding of small-scale plastic and composite recycling systems
• Hands-on experience with shredding, compression molding, and material reuse
• Exposure to real-world engineering trade-offs in recycling processes
• Experience creating and documenting experimental manufacturing protocols
• Insight into sustainability challenges and solutions within composite manufacturing
• Experience working across in-house operations and external recycling partners

4. Time Commitment

• 20 hours per week
• Schedule to be coordinated with the SwellCycle team
• Internship duration: 6 months

5. Location & Travel

• Primary work location: Swellcycle facility 
• Regular driving required to partner recycling facility (Peninsula Precious Plastic)
• Intern must have:
• A valid driver’s license
• Reliable transportation
• Mileage reimbursement if not driving with the Swellcycle van

6. Supervision & Reporting

• The intern will report to: Liesbeth Van Hassel, PhD - Sustainability and Operations Lead
• Regular check-ins will be held to review progress, learning goals, and project outcomes

7. Deliverables

• Active participation in recycling, shredding, and reprocessing workflows
• Contribution to composite recycling experiments and protocol development
• Process documentation and learning summaries
• Support in producing recycled feedstock or prototype products
• Final internship reflection or summary report (optional)

8. Compensation

This is an unpaid internship structured as an educational and skill-building experience. In lieu of monetary compensation, SwellCycle offers the following perks:

• Free lunch two times per week
• Free class to learn Shape3D digital surfboard shaping software
• Opportunity to design your own surfboard during the internship

9. Values & Expectations

The intern is expected to align with SwellCycle’s core values:

• Environmental responsibility
• Curiosity and willingness to learn
• Respect for shared workspaces and equipment
• Safety-first mindset when working with tools and machinery

10. How to Apply

Submit your CV and a short cover letter through the job posting on our website