Job description

Recruitment for this position is part of a very special project called the Off-Grid Talent Initiative, run by Shortlist in partnership with UKAID and the Carbon Trust. If you are hired for the position, not only will you join your new company but you will also become a part of the OGTI Clean Energy Leaders’ Community. This includes mentorship, peer network support, online training and other exclusive resources, as well as follow up over the length of your contract. Apply today, begin a career in the renewable energy industry with your new company, and become a part of the OGTI Clean Energy Leaders.

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Department: Engineering

Reports to: Senior Mechanical Engineer

Job Purpose: Ampersand is seeking a mechanical engineer with experience designing and delivering solutions to tough technical challenges. A Mechanical Engineer at Ampersand will work with a team of engineers and designers to design and implement innovative solutions to optimize Ampersand’s batteries, vehicles, and swap infrastructure. 

Ampersand is committed to gender equality in the workplace. They have so far more than doubled their female representation in their workforce over the past 10 months, and continuing this growth remains a key goal for the company. 

With this in mind, Ampersand strongly encourages female applicants to apply.

Job Responsibilities:

An Ampersand Mechanical Engineer will hold the following responsibilities: 

Product design and engineering analysis:

• Participating in all aspects of mechanical design and development of vehicle subsystems and charge station infrastructure. This includes brainstorming and low-resolution prototyping, CAD design, fabrication, testing and analyzing mechanical systems.
• Fabrication of prototypes using power tools and welding equipment. 
• Interacting with and learning from our customers, the moto-taxi drivers, and championing their needs. 
• Engineering analysis of vehicle and battery systems including performance and efficiency analysis, FEA, lifecycle analysis, etc. 
• Participating in the development of processes and procedures related to mechanical systems, such as manufacturing procedures, charge station procedures, maintenance procedures, etc. 
• Regularly reporting to the supervisor. 
• Working as a team and assisting others whenever needed, and communicating clearly and often. 

Desired Characteristics:

• We are looking for a mechanical engineer with demonstrated industry experience. Candidates who possess the following are encouraged to apply.  
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or similar engineering field. 
• 1-2 years of relevant work experience. 
• Experience with CAD and fluent in creating technical drawings. FEA, MATLAB, advanced Excel are a bonus. 
• A team player who is comfortable collaborating across functions. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication. 
• This position is based in Kigali, Rwanda. Experience of living abroad is desirable, and experience with cross-cultural teams is preferred. 
• Near-native English-speaking abilities, with strong verbal communication. 

Candidate Attributes:

• You’re interested in clean energy and environmental impact (even without experience in it yet) You are a hands-on, proactive problem solver 
• You’re comfortable thinking outside of the box 
• You are excited to be a part of a dynamic team  
• You enjoy having a focus on the customer and care deeply about the impact we make on their lives  
• You are looking for an entrepreneurial company that values innovation and strong execution  
• You value diversity and community in the workplace