Design Engineer

Daikin Europe NV (DENV) is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Limited, a Japanese outstanding company and worldwide the biggest developer, producer and supplier of HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration) solutions, including heating pumps and cooling technology.

DENV is Daikin’s sales, R&D, and production headquarters for Europe, the Middle-East and Africa. The headquarters has Belgian offices in Brussels, Ghent and Ostend, as well as 8 production plants, 24 sales subsidiaries and offices and a whole network of independent distributors and dealers across the EMEA region.

Department

As the EMEA Development Centre (EDC), we develop air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and ventilation products as well as controls and IoT solutions. These are produced in different factories located within and outside Europe.

Your role

As a Design Engineer within our EMEA Development Centre, you will be involved in the development of heat pumps, refrigeration systems, commercial air conditioning and ventilation products, taking into account the requirements of the different stakeholders (customers, manufacturing, sales,...).

The EMEA Development Centre headquarters is in Ostend and Ghent. This vacant position is located in the Ostend office, although a permanent move is planned towards the Ghent office by March 2025 .

Within the CAD environment (re)design HVAC products. The currently used package is Solid Edge (3D/2D), but on short term a migration is planned to Siemens NX.

Core tasks in these developments include:

• Design a wide range of parts (piping, sheet metal (die parts and CNC), insulation, plastics (die parts), packing, labels, wires,...) according to specific Daikin methods & standards;
• Take into account the result of CAE simulations and QCDM (Quality / Cost / Delivery / Manufacturability).
• Be involved in visits to field/fares in order to grasp the needs from customers and installers. Use this knowledge to make a design concept for units suited for the market needs.
• Use techniques as FMEA + FTA to validate the designs or find measures to solve design and validation issues;
• Make 3D design and 2D drawings to prepare for prototype parts ordering and for mass production;
• Maintain the Bill Of Material by using specific Daikin designed system;
• Make specification drawings which are used as input for marketing data;
• Lead and guide a team of designers: Define autonomously design related tasks while taking the global project planning into account, this in consultation with the project leader; Prioritize the tasks and distribute within the team. Follow up and manage that project timelines can be followed.
• Lead smaller projects from A to Z. Linked with that report on official project follow up meetings;
• Join project meetings to report on the progress as spokesman of the designer team.
• Join the prototype making process (e.g. parts ordering; actual building) and witness your 3D design prototyped in our prototype shops on site; Evaluate your design and modify if required;
• Analyse the result of a prototype evaluation test and make scenarios with possible design solutions based on QCDM. Propose and discuss with project leader.
• Equally important is your role as contact person between EDC and other departments such as Procurement, Quality, and Production and with external suppliers, whereby you will acquire a good insight to the whole Daikin production process.
• Enhance CAD/CAE systems with a focus on tolerances for complex assemblies, mentor junior designers, possess HVAC operational knowledge, apply mechanics/physics principles for practical calculations, have experience in full product lifecycle management, collaborate with suppliers for quality and innovation, and continuously learn and implement industry standards like Daikin Group standards.

Your profile

• You have a master’s degree in engineering, for example in mechanics, electromechanics, industrial design. You are familiar with material selection, stress analysis, mechanics.
• You are acquainted with CAD 3D and 2D design (parametric) and can assess the impact on tolerances of parts on the total design;
• Experience with CAE (e.g. FEM simulations) is an asset;
• Knowledge on parts production processes (steel press, plastic injection,...) in order to design parts that can be manufactured is a must;
• You are a person with a strong technical interest, willing to be a part of a project team;
• You are a team player who is driven to find solutions for technical requirements and specific client enquiries. You can think conceptual and make suitable design accordingly.
• You are not afraid to be in the driver seat and act as leader.
• You are not afraid to report and open to make project supporting documents, next to the 3D/2D job.
• You are hands-on and next to the 3D design you are interested to work on the actual unit yourself to improve your designs;
• You work structured and have an attention for detail.
• You are familiar with full lifecycle of a product (ideally by prior experience in a product development environment).
• From nature, you like exploring new technologies/techniques.
• You have a strong interest in the HVACR business and want to actively contribute to achieving the goals of the Green Deal. Basic knowledge on HVACR operation is a plus.
• You enjoy playing an active role in projects and you have the natural behaviour to make priorities and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of both spoken and written English are essential for this position.
• This vacancy is open to both recent graduates and candidates with experience.
• Valid driving licence.

We offer

At Daikin you can count on a varied job, with an international market leader which encourages people to work together and develop. We can offer you a permanent contract. You will become part of the EDC team which is engaged to make the world a greener place by introducing renewable alternatives in our cooling/heating market. You will be supported by a team of enthusiastic designers and engineers. From the very beginning you can count on thorough training and intensive support. Your competitive salary is complemented by a package of extra-legal benefits.

Daikin Europe is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 12,000 employees across more than 59 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 12 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People.

Good climate starts with people
Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.