Automotive Designer

Mobius is an early stage social business working to enable mobility across Africa by transforming its automotive market. We recognise that appropriate transport is a key enabler to socio-economic development in deprived communities across the developing world and aim to unlock this vast potential by designing, manufacturing and selling a new vehicle for Africa, starting in Kenya.

Description

We are seeking a minimum one year commitment from an exceptional early career automotive designer to lead the end-to-end design of our third prototype vehicle. This prototype will form the basis of our main product offering into the African market – a truly unique opportunity to create impact on a global scale. The role will require a close working relationship with the venture’s CEO, Automotive Engineer, Cost Engineer as well as the local Kenyan mechanics and welders on the team. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

Technical Design

Create original exterior (body) and interior design ideas utilising electronic tools and propose new design concepts; consider aesthetics, safety, durability, economy and functionality. Maintain feasibility of design for low volume production tooling and limited in-country resources. For example, steel stamping presses will not be available at initial production. Make perspective sketches and digital models in scale sufficient to communicate new exterior and interior design ideas; develop 2D and 3D mock-ups of proposed design solutions. Build in scale physical models of exterior digital models and integrate refinements to physical model back into an updated digital model. Prepare major design layouts collaboratively with Automotive Engineer and Cost Engineer,including design calculations to achieve functional performance. Model automotive interior/exterior components and/or complete product systems/assemblies using CAD where such components or systems are sourced off-the-shelf (typical). Design automotive interior/exterior components and/or complete product systems/assemblies using CAD where such components or systems are not sourced off-the-shelf (atypical); integrate interior/exterior components and systems design into vehicle sub-systems. Evaluate and ensure manufacturability, buildability, and integration with Automotive Engineer, Cost Engineer, Supply Chain Associate and future Production Planners and Product Managers. Identify, create solutions, and resolve technical design conflicts collaboratively with Automotive Engineer and Cost Engineer. Coordinate input from external customers to better understand customer needs and/or perceptions of product.

Project Management

Lead and facilitate design review sessions; revise designs with stakeholder feedback. Take ownership of projects; plan milestones, timelines, budgets, resources and identify potential risks to deliver design aspects within agreed completion dates. Be proactive regarding task completion and periodically advise wider team on project status, timing, resources, issues, and ability to deliver on-time with excellence. Ensure adherence and compliance to general automotive industry design standards and best practices; maintain structured and versioned data outputs daily and backup data weekly. Work as an active member of the team, ensure effective communication between colleaguesand positively contribute regularly to meetings and briefings.

Qualifications

An ideal candidate should combine outstanding technical skills in design and strong knowledge of automotive engineering with excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with a multidisciplinary team. They should be rigorous, pragmatic and on-the-ground solution focussed – not overly academic.

Required

Bachelor degree (minimum) in Industrial Design, Automotive Design, Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or similar 3.4 GPA or higher from a top university worldwide 1-2 years of automotive-related experience, preferably on a vehicle design project Ability to read and write design and manufacturing drawings Proficiency in SolidWorks, Unigraphics or AutoCAD Ability to create and communicate new design ideas Strong understanding of design form, particularly modern styles (preferably award winning) Excellent drawing and graphic skills Demonstrated creative proficiency with supporting portfolio Ability to create perspective sketches and renderings in scale and full size Experience and understanding of materials used in exterior and interior components Passion for prototype development and a pragmatic attitude Ability to adapt to a dynamic working environment and work within a diverse team Extreme patience and a good sense of humour Excellent oral and written communication skills Excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with others High level of analytical and problem solving skills Automotive Designer 3 of 3 Mobius Motors Ability to self manage; taking ownership of projects: budgeting, work planning, resource management and reporting A start-up personality; entrepreneurial, ambitious, independent, systematic attention to detail, structured thinker, goal-oriented, flexible and able to deal well with setbacks

Desired

Masters degree (or higher) in Industrial Design, Automotive Design, Product Design, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or similar 2-5 years of automotive-related experience, preferably on a vehicle design project Detailed understanding of automotive exteriors, interiors, manufacturing and operations Deep knowledge of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and computer graphics Involvement in a dune-buggy/sandrail build specifically Fluency in Kiswahili (the national language of Kenya)

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