Mechanical Design Engineer at Zero Motorcycles Inc.
Drenthe, Drenthe, Netherlands -
Full Time


Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

24 Jan, 27

Salary

90000.0

Posted On

26 Oct, 26

Experience

8 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

No

Skills

Industry

Engineering Services

Description

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & Design Ownership

  • Leads design and development of complex motorcycle components and systems — including structural frames, battery enclosures, IP-rated sealing systems, and powertrain integration — through all programme phases (concept, F&D (Feasibility and Definition), D&R (Durability and Refinement), VAL (Validation), FPCS (First Production Conforming Sample))
  • Owns the full technical definition of assigned line items: 3D CAD master models, GD&T drawings, DFM/DFA analysis, DFMEA facilitation, DVP&R (Design Verification Plan and Report) planning, and production release in SAP ECTR
  • Drives design decisions independently using sound engineering judgement; communicates trade-offs and recommendations clearly to programme leads and management
  • Leads design reviews at key programme gates; prepares and presents technically rigorous review packages, incorporating cross-functional feedback effectively
  • Identifies and resolves critical path risks in design and integration; escalates unresolvable conflicts with full technical framing

Battery Pack & High-Voltage Mechanical Integration

  • Leads mechanical design of HV battery pack structural and sealing systems, including enclosure design, thermal interface material (TIM) specification, module retention, and bus bar / interconnect packaging
  • Defines mechanical interface requirements between the pack and vehicle structure, BMS (Battery Management System) electronics, cooling circuits, and regulatory compliance hardware
  • Applies knowledge of UN 38.3 (transport testing), IEC 62619 (safety requirements for stationary and traction batteries), and relevant homologation standards (EU Type Approval, AIS-156 for India-market programmes where applicable) to design decisions
  • Owns DFM/DFA review for battery pack assemblies; coordinates PPAP (Production Part Approval Process) readiness activities with supply chain and manufacturing engineering

Vehicle Systems & Integration 

  • Collaborates at vehicle architecture level with programme CPL (Chief Platform Lead), ID (Industrial Design), powertrain, and electrical teams to resolve packaging conflicts and meet system-level requirements
  • Owns or contributes to major structural design (frame interfaces, swingarm, headlight structure, tail section) and dynamic structure design (impact load paths)
  • Applies simulation tools — FEA (Altair HyperWorks or equivalent), CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), thermal analysis — to validate design decisions before physical builds; interprets and acts on analysis results independently
  • Specifies and approves assembly and service procedures for assigned systems

Programme Execution & Cross-Functional Collaboration

  • Provides input to programme schedules and cost targets; holds own due dates and understands downstream impact of schedule changes on manufacturing, purchasing, and regulatory milestones
  • Generates and tracks ECOs (Engineering Change Orders) / CRs (Change Records) through the SAP ECTR release cycle; maintains BOM accuracy
  • Prepares engineering documents to support regulatory type approval submissions, manufacturing engineering, and after-sales / service documentation
  • Works effectively across Zero's geographically distributed team spanning Netherlands, Scotts Valley (CA), and OEM / contract development partner sites; communicates technical content clearly in English across time zones and cultural contexts
  • Mentors MDE I–III engineers on design methods, process discipline, and engineering judgement; contributes to in-house mechanical design excellence

Supplier & Manufacturing Engagement

  • Leads technical engagement with part manufacturers, tooling suppliers, and contract development partners on assigned systems
  • Reviews and approves supplier DFM feedback, prototype builds, and PPAP submission packages
  • Responds to and leads root-cause analysis for manufacturing non-conformances and field failures within assigned scope

Required Education / Experience 

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or higher in Mechanical Engineering
  • 7+ years of relevant mechanical design engineering experience in a product development environment; motorcycle, automotive, or e-mobility industry strongly preferred
  • Advanced SolidWorks proficiency: complex part modelling, advanced surfacing, large assembly management, master modelling methodology, full drawing and GD&T annotation
  • Comprehensive understanding of manufacturing processes: injection moulding, casting (die and sand), forging, CNC machining, weldments, sheet metal fabrication, surface treatments, and composites
  • Demonstrated experience designing and releasing structural components (frames, brackets, load-bearing enclosures)
  • Practical experience with IP-rated enclosure design and sealing system selection (FIPFG, compression gasket, adhesive)
  • Proficiency with at least one FEA toolset (SolidWorks Simulation, Altair HyperWorks / Optistruct, ANSYS, or equivalent)
  • Proven experience with BOM management, ECO/CR workflows, and document control in a PLM/PDM environment (SAP ECTR or equivalent)
  • Demonstrated ability to lead groups through technical development and design review processes


Responsibilities
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