Electronics Engineer Jobs Rwanda | Ampersand Careers 2025

 

Power the Future: Electronics Engineer Opportunity at Ampersand Rwanda

The electric vehicle revolution is accelerating across Africa, and at the forefront of this transformation stands Ampersand, Rwanda's premier e-mobility company. If you're an electronics engineer who dreams of working on cutting-edge power systems while making a tangible impact on climate change, this opportunity deserves your attention.

Ampersand is currently seeking an experienced Electronics Engineer to join their Battery System, Integration & IoT team in Kigali. This isn't your typical engineering desk job it's a hands-on role where you'll work directly with high-power systems that are reshaping transportation across East Africa.

Ampersand's Mission: Electrifying East Africa's Roads

Since its inception in Kigali and expansion into Nairobi in 2022, Ampersand has emerged as the undisputed leader in Africa's e-mobility sector. With over 5,000 electric motorcycles currently operating and 36 battery swap stations strategically positioned across Rwanda and Kenya, the company is writing a new chapter in sustainable transportation.

The numbers tell a compelling story. Motorcycle taxi drivers in East Africa collectively spend more than $6 billion annually on gasoline. Ampersand's electric motorcycles offer these drivers a more powerful, enjoyable, and cost-effective alternative. The result? Drivers who switch to electric routinely earn over 30% more income, transforming not just their vehicles but their livelihoods.

The company's ambition matches the scale of the challenge: electrify all 5 million taxi motorbikes in East Africa by 2030. With a diverse team of over 400 staff members working toward this goal, Ampersand combines startup agility with enterprise-level operational excellence.

The Role: Where Theory Meets Reality

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As an Electronics Engineer at Ampersand, you'll join the Battery System, Integration & IoT team, where theoretical knowledge transforms into real-world solutions. This position requires someone with a comprehensive understanding of electromechanical systems who can navigate the full spectrum of vehicle drivetrain research and development.

Your workspace won't be confined to computer screens and simulation software. You'll work hands-on with high-power inverters, DC motors, and sophisticated battery systems. Integration testing and end-to-end system validation will be central to your daily responsibilities, ensuring that every component works harmoniously before hitting East Africa's roads.

Rapid prototyping skills are essential here. The pace of innovation at Ampersand demands engineers who can quickly move from concept to functional prototype, test rigorously, iterate based on findings, and deploy solutions that meet real-world performance requirements.

Technical Expertise Required

The ideal candidate brings a solid and demonstrable understanding of power electronics. You should be comfortable working with high-voltage systems, understanding power conversion principles, and optimizing energy efficiency across complex electrical systems.

Battery systems and Battery Management Systems represent another critical area of expertise. As batteries form the heart of electric vehicles, you'll need deep knowledge of cell chemistry, thermal management, state-of-charge estimation, and safety protocols that keep riders protected.

PCB design and prototyping skills are equally important. From schematic capture through layout optimization to bringing up and debugging prototype boards, you should be proficient in the complete PCB development cycle.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

A Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent qualification forms the foundation. However, Ampersand looks beyond credentials to practical capabilities that translate into results.

CAD, CAM, and FEA skills are necessary, with Altium knowledge being particularly valued. You should be able to leverage these tools to design, simulate, and validate your work before committing to physical prototypes.

The ability to draw and understand electronic schematics is fundamental. You'll be reading complex circuit diagrams, identifying potential issues, and creating clear documentation that others can follow.

End-to-end testing and integration testing capabilities ensure that individual components work together as intended. You'll design test protocols, execute them methodically, and interpret results to drive design improvements.

Understanding low-level communication protocols like CANBus, I2C, UART, and SPI is essential. These protocols form the nervous system of electric vehicles, enabling critical components to communicate reliably.

Strong troubleshooting experience paired with solid theoretical knowledge allows you to diagnose issues quickly and develop effective solutions. Power electronics and control systems knowledge will be applied daily as you optimize motor control algorithms and power conversion efficiency.

The Ampersand Advantage

What distinguishes exceptional engineers from good ones often comes down to mindset and work ethic. Ampersand seeks individuals with strong work ethics who can manage shifting priorities and navigate unforeseen challenges without losing momentum.

Out-of-the-box thinking is highly valued. The best solutions often come from engineers who can distill complex problems into elegant, simple designs rather than adding unnecessary complexity.

Communication skills matter tremendously. You'll collaborate with diverse teams including firmware developers, mechanical engineers, operations staff, and management. The ability to explain technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences is crucial.

Programming skills in C and Python, along with real-time systems knowledge, represent significant advantages. While not mandatory, these capabilities enable you to work more effectively with firmware engineers and understand the complete system architecture.

Having a motorcycle driver's license is considered a plus. Understanding the rider's experience firsthand provides valuable perspective when designing and testing vehicle systems.

Core Values That Drive Success

Ampersand operates on five fundamental values that shape their culture and decision-making processes.

Customer-centricity drives daily operations. Every design decision considers how it will impact the drivers who depend on these vehicles for their livelihoods. Solutions are tailored to exceed expectations rather than merely meet specifications.

Innovation and challenging the status quo are embedded in the company DNA. Teams constantly question assumptions, explore new approaches, and push boundaries to enhance customer experiences and deliver breakthrough solutions.

Collaborative problem-solving defines how work gets done. Rather than working in silos, teams solve challenges together, leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise to reach optimal solutions.

Agility enables rapid response to dynamic customer needs and market changes. In the fast-moving world of electric mobility, the ability to adapt quickly provides a competitive advantage.

Commitment to people and planet extends beyond business metrics. Ampersand recognizes that true success means positive environmental impact and improved quality of life for the communities they serve.

Is This Role Right for You?

This position is ideal if you're genuinely interested in clean energy and environmental impact, even if you lack direct experience in the field. Ampersand values passion and willingness to learn as much as existing expertise.

Self-motivated, hands-on problem solvers thrive in this environment. If you prefer taking initiative rather than waiting for detailed instructions, you'll find Ampersand's entrepreneurial culture energizing.

Comfort with ambiguity and thinking outside conventional boundaries will serve you well. The challenges you'll face won't always have textbook solutions, requiring creativity and resourcefulness.

The ability to balance detailed technical work with big-picture strategic thinking is valuable. You should be able to zoom in on circuit-level details when needed, then zoom out to understand how your work fits into broader system objectives.

If you're organized and enjoy building robust systems, you'll appreciate the opportunity to establish processes and standards that scale as the company grows.

Those seeking an entrepreneurial company that values innovation and strong execution over corporate bureaucracy will find Ampersand's culture refreshing. The company operates with startup speed while maintaining professional standards.

If you value collaboration, diversity, and community in the workplace, you'll fit well within Ampersand's inclusive team environment where diverse perspectives are respected and encouraged.

Compensation and Location

Ampersand offers a competitive compensation package commensurate with experience, including comprehensive health insurance. While specific salary ranges aren't disclosed, the company recognizes that attracting top talent requires fair and attractive compensation.

This role is based in Kigali, Rwanda, a vibrant city known as the "Singapore of Africa" for its cleanliness, safety, and progressive policies. Kigali offers an excellent quality of life with modern infrastructure, growing tech ecosystem, and beautiful surroundings.

The Bigger Picture: Your Impact

Working as an Electronics Engineer at Ampersand means contributing to multiple levels of positive impact simultaneously.

Environmentally, you'll help reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in African cities. Transportation represents one of the largest sources of urban pollution, and electrifying motorcycle taxis directly addresses this challenge.

Economically, your work enables drivers to earn significantly higher incomes. The 30% income increase that Ampersand drivers experience translates to better living conditions for families, educational opportunities for children, and improved financial security.

Technologically, you'll advance the state of electric vehicle technology in challenging operating environments. The lessons learned and innovations developed at Ampersand have implications beyond East Africa, contributing to global EV development.

Professionally, you'll gain experience across the full spectrum of vehicle electrification—from power electronics and battery systems to motor control and systems integration. This breadth of experience is increasingly valuable as the global automotive industry transitions to electric powertrains.

Application Process and Timeline

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Ampersand is looking to fill this position as soon as possible, reflecting the urgent need for talented engineers to support their rapid scaling.

The application process is entirely free of charge. Ampersand explicitly emphasizes that they never request payment from applicants at any stage of recruitment. If you encounter any payment requests claiming association with their hiring process, report it immediately to recruitment@ampersand.solar.

This transparency around recruitment practices reflects Ampersand's commitment to fairness and integrity in all operations.

Career Growth Opportunities

Joining Ampersand now means becoming part of a company at an inflection point. With ambitious goals to reach 5 million electric motorbikes by 2030, the organization will need to scale significantly. Early team members have opportunities to grow into leadership roles as new markets open and teams expand.

You'll work alongside some of the brightest and most dedicated professionals in East Africa, learning from their expertise while contributing your own unique perspectives and skills. The collaborative environment encourages knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

The technical challenges you'll encounter span multiple disciplines, providing opportunities to expand your expertise beyond your initial specialization. Whether you want to deepen your knowledge in a specific area or broaden into new domains, Ampersand supports professional development.

The Time is Now

The transition to electric mobility is not a distant future scenario; it's happening now in East Africa. Ampersand is leading this transformation, and they need talented electronics engineers to accelerate progress.

If you have the technical skills, the right mindset, and genuine passion for making a difference, this opportunity offers the rare combination of challenging work, meaningful impact, and career advancement potential.

Every electric motorcycle that successfully replaces a gasoline-powered one represents reduced emissions, improved driver income, and validation of clean technology. As the Electronics Engineer working on these systems, you'll know that your technical contributions translate directly into positive real-world outcomes.

The question isn't whether electric mobility represents the future of transportation in Africa that much is clear. The question is whether you'll be part of the team that makes it happen.

Interested in more opportunities at the intersection of technology and sustainability? Follow our blog for updates on careers in Africa's clean energy sector.