Materials Expert

About Fisker Inc.  

California-based Fisker Inc. is revolutionizing the automotive industry by developing the most emotionally desirable and eco-friendly electric vehicles on Earth. Passionately driven by a vision of a clean future for all, the company is on a mission to become the No. 1 e-mobility service provider with the world’s most sustainable vehicles. To learn more, visit www.FiskerInc.com – and enjoy exclusive content across Fisker’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Download the revolutionary new Fisker mobile app from the App Store or Google Play store. 

Role Overview 

A key role within the Vehicle engineering team, this role will lead be responsible for supporting the whole business with their knowledge in materials and creatively apply this expertise to solve engineering and design challenges.

Responsibilities

  • Defining material selection strategy and establishing specification books
  • New suppler engagement and capability assessments, including appraisals of future technologies and concepts
  • Liase with suppliers, engineering, and manufacturing to recommend materials through the selection process and finalize choices based on engineering judgement and complete vehicle targets
  • Conduct materials benchmarking, trend analysis, and research activities to provide technical advice on new material selection
  • Research and collaborate with suppliers and technology providers to recommend sustainable materials, coatings, and processes where feasible
  • Recommend and evaluate candidate materials for engineering and design requirements including appearance, fit, strength, manufacturability, and durability
  • Material and processes assessments for design concepts, reviews, and manufacturability.
  • Conduct recyclability and carbon footprint calculations to support sustainability and corporate initiatives
  • Lead light weighing initiatives for complete vehicle activities and system-level analysis
  • Identify and attend key events/seminars and report latest trends on strength, materials, and manufacturing opportunities
  • Generate proposals, reports, and recommendations regarding the latest developments in this field to meet quality, weight, strength, sustainability, and design criteria can be met
  • Monitor material compliance requirements for global markets and track BOM-level status of parts and systems to ensure compliance and targets are met 
  • Creating compliance test reports and collating regulatory documentation for global markets
  • Work closely with design engineers, interpret engineering and design requirements, offer expert opinions on design issues with engineering consensus and record the key decisions.
  • Develop and plan audits for suppliers and manufacturing locations to ensure material quality, compliance, and processes are being followed
  • Responsible for IMDS/CAMDS material compliance systems
  • Collect, catalog, and own the master samples for materials, coatings, grains, and other related quality items
  • Prepare necessary data management documents related to testing and certification
  • Interact with global regulatory bodies including NHTSA, EPA, EU type-approval agencies, Chinese test labs and others as required
  • Oversee Corrosion testing and confirm prototype and production status of coatings, wax, and sealants are meeting engineering, manufacturing, and design criteria
  • Investigate concerns through the development and quality confirmation process to find root causes and recommend countermeasures with design or engineering optimization
  • Oversee the operational quality control process to ensure engineering and design targets are met with each stage of part releases 
  • Supervise engineering and technical staff while working to keep the design intent and master sample intent 
  • Become the key point of contact for materials and coatings within the organization

Qualifications

  • A minimum of 7 years of experience in a material engineering role
  • BSc/MSc Degree or higher in relevant subject i.e. Materials science
  • Product delivery experience in a technical or design related field
  • An understanding of automotive environmental requirements would be an advantage but not essential. Non-automotive experience would be an advantage
  • Creative mindset to apply knowledge of materials and manufacturing to deliver innovative solutions for engineering and design challenges
  • Deep curiosity to understand the product and how the regulations may be applied
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with government authorities, suppliers and test labs
  • Ability and willingness to travel domestically and globally as required to support supplier and quality development activities
  • Proficient in MS Excel, Word, Project, and PowerPoint

Preferred Skills / Experience / Competences 

Drive for Results: Drive for high performance, takes responsibility and works towards planning targets, overcoming obstacles, setbacks and uncertainty.

Business Acumen: Contribute to the company strategy and aligns the strategic priorities of own area with the direction and strategic priorities of the broader organization.

Customer Centricity: Anticipates evolving customer needs and how to address them, doing the right thing in the right way.

Decision Making: Makes timely, informed decisions that consider the facts, goals, constraints, and risks.

Analytical Thinking: Gather relevant information, identify key issues, compare data from different sources; draw appropriate conclusions to arrive at appropriate solutions.

Teamwork & Collaboration: Facilitates Collaboration, actively engaging and to make joint decision and share best practices.

Displays Global Perspective: Conveys an understanding of the organization's global market position, opportunities, capabilities, and competitive threats and takes cultural issues and geographic differences into account when making plans and decisions.

Additional Information

  • Must be able to lift 25 lbs unassisted, bend, stretch, stand for extended periods of time, climb stairs, reach, twist, sit, walk, and/or run
  • Must be willing to work overtime and on weekends where needed to meet deadlines and company goals

Fisker Group Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment at Fisker Group Inc. is governed based on merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. Applicants wishing to view a copy of Fisker Group Inc. Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at hr@fiskerinc.com

Organisation: 
Fisker Inc