Industrial Designer, Cabin Management System and Technology
About the Opportunity:
You will be at the forefront of the next generation of highly talented interiors designers and engineers at Honda Aircraft Company. The interior of our HondaJet aircraft is where we directly interface and with our aircraft owners and passengers. Passenger experience is an area of highest importance to our business jets, and you will join our Interiors team to create and define the features, functionalities, ergonomics, and overall Industrial Design of our aircraft interiors. A key focus of your design efforts will be the onboard Cabin Management System, which includes the development of physical and HMA/screen-based/graphical systems for passenger and crew control of Cabin Environment functionality, Entertainment systems, Connectivity, Screen-based and physical interfaces, lighting systems and power/charging. However, you will also bring your well-rounded design experience to contribute to all elements of the cabin, including Seating, Storage systems, functional spaces such as the flight deck, galley, and lavatory – addressing styling, ergonomics and human factors, system modularity and option development, design for manufacturing, and the creation of mockups and visual assets to support Sales and Marketing activities.
As HMI/Industrial Designer, you will collaborate closely with HACI engineers and our collaborating system suppliers, and interface with our Marketing, Sales, Product Strategy, Supply Chain management, and Manufacturing teams to assist in guiding our aircraft interiors from initial definition through engineering design, testing, certification and entry into service. On a given day you may attend regular supplier progress and technical integration meetings, develop physical and screen-based prototypes and mockups for evaluation and testing, evaluate Honda and supplier prototype components in our mockup or test bench, co-develop HMI and GUI with our engineering and supplier teams, create human factors and passenger ergonomics assessments, develop and refine high-quality surface CAD, or generate 2D and 3D visuals for presentation purposes. You will be given the opportunity to apply your outstanding experience and future vision, using judgement and autonomy to guide the future of business aviation interiors. This position affords an expectation of strong personal and professional growth within our agile engineering teams.
Your Key Responsibilities:
- You will be working in a fast paced environment, and will embrace constantly evolving tasks and priorities. This will include technology research, HMI architecture design, GUI development/testing/refinement, interior features definition, 2D sketch visualization, 3D CAD solid and surface modelling, mechanical and installation design, and supporting airplane build. You will become a key contributor with rapidly increasing levels of responsibility.
- Technical integration with interfacing aircraft systems, including Interiors Engineering, Structures, Electrical Systems, other relevant interior cabin components (almost all of them!)
- You will research and develop a range of technologies from conventional CMS features to emerging technology, creating a roadmap of technology for use on current and future product iterations.
- Leadership of the User-Experience development of interior systems within Honda Aircraft Company’s Integrated Product Teams - cross-functional teams of Honda and Supplier experts. You will work closely with programs and project engineering to ensure crisp project status, weight and cost management, Requirements compliance, and overall system functionality.
- You will be expected to utilize novel approaches to solve complex and challenging problems.
- You will collaborate daily with collaborating groups within Honda Aircraft Company, and with our external Suppliers. This will require strong communication skills, initiative and a desire to listen, learn, and lead.
- Validate designs per core design principles, standards, manufacturing processes and industry best practices.
- Identify opportunities to elevate the passenger experience in every detail of the aircraft interior.
- Make technical and program-related recommendations to Engineering leadership.
- Work with Manufacturing and Customer-Service teams to ensure design for modularity, manufacturability, maintainability, and ease of future upgrade (a particular challenge in the world of cabin technology)
- Ensure adherence to program milestones and objectives.
Who You Are:
You have a passion for transportation design and aviation, with a strong focus on user-interface and overall in-flight experience. You are able to see the overall picture but also to deep dive into details as needed, utilizing solid judgement and problem solving skills, facilitation discussion and collaboration, getting the most out of your team and colleagues to benefit the aircraft program. You prioritize passenger experience and can expertly establish and pursue a class-leading in-flight experience, balanced this with design skills and practical manufacturing knowledge to make it happen – incorporating the realities of weight, schedule, cost and technical requirements. You are ready and able to take a project from initial concept and see it through to final delivery. You are an inventor and all-around Industrial Designer, comfortable in sketching, CAD design, UI/UX development, Ergonomics and Human factors, 2D and 3D rendering, prototype and mock-up development and testing, and have a demonstrated ability to bring concepts to market. You are an excellent communicator and collaborator. You are seeking an opportunity to apply the knowledge you have gained, working with other talented engineers in the research and development of the next generation of luxury business aircraft.
Education, Work Experience, Certification and/or Licensure:
1. Bachelors’ degree or Diploma in Industrial Design is required. (In lieu of degree/diploma, management may elect to consider individuals with a equivalent years of combined experience and training.)
2. Masters’ degree in a Design or Engineering field is preferred.
3. 5+ years of Industrial Design experience with at least three years of design engineering and supplier integration experience directly related to transportation interior design, ideally in the aviation segment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Working knowledge of conceptual design development of aircraft interiors.
2. Working knowledge of materials and manufacturing processes in transportation design, with a strong priority on Aviation design
3. In-depth knowledge of 3D CAD software,
4. Familiarity with 14CFR Part 23/25.
5. High-level proficiency in CATIA V5, with proficiency in Surfacing 3D modeling tools (i.e. - Alias, etc).
6. Familiarity with Teamcenter (or equivalent PLM tool).
7. Familiarity with mockup and prototype manufacturing, both Physical and screen-based prototyping
8. Solid knowledge of applied ergonomics and human factors.
9. Ability to work independently or within a team environment.
10. Ability to communicate effectively throughout all levels within an organization and present data clearly and concisely.
11. Ability to work cross functionally with Quality and Production to resolve issues on the production line.
Physical Requirements:
1. Incumbents may be routinely exposed to equipment operational noise heat-cold-dust, and/or aircraft equipment, parts, or fuel odors.
2. Incumbents may be required to stand, sit, squat, walk, bend, climb ladders, move, reach, or stretch for prolonged time periods with no restrictions, as required by job duties.
3. Work in a safe and professional manner while adhering to all regulatory requirements (FAA, OSHA, DOT, EPA, State, and Federal regulations, etc.).
4. Read, hear, speak, and see with no restrictions, as required by job duties.
5. Comprehend and adhere to management directions and/or safety instructions with no restrictions.
6. Effectively communicate in Business English language.
7. Pull, push, carry, lift, or move items up to 10 lbs. throughout the work shift without assistance, as required by job duties.
8. Pull, push, carry, lift or move materials/people/items/equipment weighing up to 50lbs or more during the work shift, with the use of Company provided “reach assistance technology” or “movement assist technology” (fork-lifts, pallet jacks, pulleys, dolly’s, robotics reach equipment, people movers etc.), as required by job duties.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, and responsibilities required of personnel so classified. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This document does not constitute a contract between the incumbent and Honda Aircraft Company. (FLSA: Exempt) 01/07/13