Summary:
Our client designs, manufactures and sells highly functional, highly affordable vehicles as a transportation platform empowering local entrepreneurs to mobilize the developing world.
They are an early stage social business working to enable mobility across Africa by transforming its automotive market. They recognize 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.They are looking for exceptional individuals who share their vision and possess the skills and attitude necessary to make a valuable contribution to their work in Africa.
Job Objective:
Our client is seeking a minimum two year commitment from an exceptional early career Cost Engineer to lead the overall vehicle cost management process for a new vehicle that will form the basis of our main product offering into the African market – a truly unique opportunity to create impact on a global scale.
Primary Responsibilities:
Cost Engineering
Provide guidance to the Automotive Designer and Design Engineer for proposed new or modified designs to achieve required function at minimum cost.Develop cost estimates and projections for multiple vehicle commodities on Exterior and Interior; including Power Train, Chassis and Electrical.Utilize information ranging from written assumptions, sample parts, CAD models and engineering drawings.Maintain feasibility of engineering approach for low volume production tooling and limited in country resources. For example, steel stamping presses will not be available at initial production.Utilize in-country equipment and materials and adapt approach to the low-tech resources available.Gather details and compile data to estimate all production costs considering raw materials, labor, equipment, tooling, for estimations.Maintain all tooling and product cost information to assure the timely availability of data required for decision-making and to ensure conformity with budget directives.Liaise with manufacturing plants and suppliers to assure most economical tooling, processing and operations that will contribute to profitable production.Undertake competitive vehicle benchmarking to provide input for future model development.Perform Value Add / Value Engineering. Generate cost reduction ideas through identification of process/product efficiencies that will reduce overall costs. Work with all stakeholders to achieve cost reduction targets.Support Supply Chain Associate in specific sourcing work involving critical costs and engineering considerations; including analysis and trade-offs of functionality versus cost.Support Design Engineer and Automotive Designer on broader engineering duties relevant to the development of current and future vehicle models.Lead and facilitate cost review sessions. Report risks and opportunities of cost status on a weekly basis.Take ownership of projects; plan milestones, timelines, budgets, resources and identify potential risks to deliver engineering 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 engineering 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 colleagues and positively contribute regularly to meetings and briefings.Fluency in KiswahiliBachelor degree (minimum) in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Industrial SystemsEngineering, Engineering Management or similar3.4 GPA or higher from a top university worldwide1-2 years of automotive-related experienceAbility to read and understand design and manufacturing drawingsAbility to evaluate and provide cost data on components in their commodity including direct material, direct labor and tooling costsPractical knowledge of VE and VA techniques and strong financial awarenessHigh level of design awarenessAbility to navigate CAD models in CATIAPassion for prototype development and a pragmatic attitudeAbility to adapt to a dynamic working environment and work within a diverse teamExtreme patience and a good sense of humorExcellent oral and written communication skillsExcellent interpersonal skills to work effectively with othersHigh level of analytical and problem solving skillsAbility to self-manage; taking ownership of projects: budgeting, work planning, resource management and reportingA start-up personality; entrepreneurial, ambitious, independent, systematic attention to detail, structured thinker, goal-oriented, flexible and able to deal well with setbacksMaster’s degree (or higher) in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Industrial SystemsEngineering, Engineering Management or similar2-5 years of automotive-related experienceProficiency in CATIA, SolidWorks, Unigraphics or AutoCADSolid knowledge of vehicle parts and subsystems and knowledge of part interactionFluency in Kiswahili (the national language of Kenya)How to Apply:Interested candidates holding the necessary requirements, good performance and / or references are encouraged to apply with detailed CV’s, inclusive of names and contacts of 3 referees, current telephone number and email address by scrolling down and clicking on the following link: Cost Engineer
