Junior Mechanical Engineer

Do you want to do work that matters? Do you want to help improve the lives of some of the most hardworking people in Africa, while also reducing carbon emissions? Do you want to use your skills to advance Africa and the Global South towards a zero-carbon future, not just to make a living? Ampersand is your answer.

About Ampersand

Ampersand is Africa’s emobility pioneer. Ampersand provides electric motorcycles and charging infrastructure (battery swap stations), uniquely tailored to serve half of Africa’s road fleet: Commercial motorcycle taxi and delivery drivers. Moto taxis are a primary means of public transport in African cities, and it is estimated that these drivers spend >$6Bn p.a. on gasoline in East Africa alone. Ampersand has developed an electric solution that is more powerful, fun to drive, and more cost-effective than the incumbent. Ampersand drivers routinely earn over 30% more income by going electric.

The company started in Kigali, Rwanda and expanded into Nairobi, Kenya in 2022. Today it has over 3,000 e-motorcycles on the road and 36 battery swap stations across the two countries. Ampersand is leading the market in quality and affordable tech, customer traction, and operational systems. The Ampersand team consists of 400+ staff drawn from diverse backgrounds and is working hard to see all 5 million taxi motorbikes in East Africa become electric by 2030. Ampersand is rapidly scaling its operations and is looking for innovative professionals who are passionate about clean energy and environmental impact to lead and contribute to our rapid growth.

Ampersand is a company that values innovation, creativity, and continuous improvement. It seeks people who are proactive problem solvers to drive results. Ampersand promotes leadership within the organization and is a place where you can grow your career as you work with some of the brightest and hard-working individuals in East Africa.

Our Values

• Customer-centric Everyday: We prioritize our customers daily, tailoring solutions to exceed expectations.
• Challenge The Status Quo Through Innovation: Our dedicated teams constantly challenge the status quo, driving innovation to enhance customer experiences and deliver solutions that go beyond expectations
• Love Solving Problems Together: Internal collaboration is our approach; we thrive on solving challenges alongside our customers.
• Stay Agile: We stay agile to swiftly meet dynamic customer needs and adapt to a changing landscape.
• Driven By People And Planet: Beyond business, we're committed to people and the planet, ensuring a positive impact.

About the role

Ampersand is seeking a junior mechanical engineer who is skilled in different fabrication techniques. He/she will be part of the R&D team and will be responsible for the fabrication of prototypes based on the drawing . He /she should be a clear communicator, a team player, have problem solving skills and can do attitude.He/she should have an interest in fabricating things and also should be good with their hands. He /she will report to the senior mechanical engineer and will be responsible for the following:

In this role, you will hold the following responsibilities:

• Come up with creative solution for prototyping
• Contribute ideas in the brainstorming session for different design works
• Work closely within the R and D team to prototype and test different design ideas based on technical drawings
• Help in implementation of design ideas in production
• Work in fabrication of tools and fixtures

Minimum requirements

For this role specifically, you will have:

• Graduate with a technical/engineering degree
• Ability to read and implement technical drawings
• Good with free hand sketch to communicate ideas
• Ability to balance multiple tasks while working under pressure with close attention to details, accuracy and quality at all times
• Ability to use CAD software is a bonus
• Good verbal and written communication in English
• Experience working in a team
• 3+ years’ experience as a machinist or welder
• Vehicle( motorbike) or battery experience a bonus
• Strong demonstrated mechanical intuition
• Diligent and proactive in approach to work
• Good communication and interpersonal skills

Timing

ASAP

Compensation:

A competitive compensation package commensurate with local market rates and experience including health insurance.

Job location

This role will be based in Kigali, Rwanda

Interested?

Women and minority groups are strongly encouraged to apply

📢 Important Notice:

At Ampersand, we want to emphasize that we do not discriminate based on gender, race, religion etc… We do not charge or request any form of payment from applicants at any stage of our recruitment process. Your job application and interviews with us are entirely free of charge. If you encounter any requests for payment or fees claiming association with our hiring process, please report it to recruitment@ampersand.solar immediately. Your trust and confidence in our company are paramount, and we are committed to providing a fair and transparent recruitment experience for all applicants.