Industrial & Transportation Design Engineer

At HPS Aviation, we are reimagining the future of air mobility through the Humming Propulsion System (HPS), a nature-inspired breakthrough engineered for significantly higher efficiency than traditional propulsion. Our flagship platform, CROW, is a hydrogen-powered flying vehicle delivering tilt-free vertical takeoff, six degrees of freedom, and whisper-quiet operation at around 65 dB. With a range of up to 1,500 km and a top speed of 500 km/h, CROW aims to make advanced flying cars practical for everyday and commercial use. HPS features a compact, scalable design suitable for drones and larger flying platforms, combining hydrogen and electric technologies for zero-emission urban air mobility. As part of a growing global movement, HPS Aviation is focused on accessible, safe, and sustainable next-generation flight solutions.

The Creative Profile We Are Looking For:

· Exceptional visual taste and a recognizable personal design point of view.

· Originality: ability to create new forms rather than imitate existing cars, aircraft or eVTOL concepts.

· Artist's eye combined with engineering discipline - beauty must survive dimensions, packaging, aerodynamics and manufacturing constraints.

· High curiosity and obsession with detail, proportion, surfaces and the emotional character of a vehicle.

· Ability to challenge an existing design constructively and propose a clearly better alternative.

· Fast learning, high ownership and comfort working in an experimental deep-tech startup where the product evolves continuously.

Role Description:

The Industrial & Transportation Design Engineer at HPS Aviation is initially a remote role on a contract basis for the first 6 months. The role is responsible for leading the industrial and transportation design of HPS Aviation's TANNANA / CROW flying car. Create and refine exterior/interior concepts and 3D models while balancing visual identity with engineering, aerodynamics, packaging, ergonomics and manufacturability constraints.

Core Design Responsibilities:

· Create original exterior and interior design concepts for TANNANA / CROW, from ideation and sketching through mature 3D proposals.

· Develop and continuously refine vehicle proportions, silhouette, stance, volumes, surface transitions, openings, glazing, lighting signatures and key visual features.

· Build, edit and optimize production-quality 3D design models in Autodesk 3ds Max; maintain clean topology, organized scenes and revision discipline.

· Translate engineering hard-points, dimensions and packaging constraints into compelling design solutions without compromising function or manufacturability.

· Generate multiple design alternatives rapidly and use structured design reviews to converge toward approved directions.

· Design cockpit, cabin, seating environment, interfaces, trim, storage and other interior elements with strong attention to ergonomics and user experience.

· Develop Color, Material and Finish (CMF) directions appropriate for a premium advanced-mobility product.

· Produce high-quality visualizations, renders, turntables and presentation assets for internal design reviews, investor presentations and approved external communication.

· Support physical mockups, 3D-printed models and prototype reviews to validate proportions, ergonomics and visual intent.

· Maintain a clear design history with versioning, references, rationale and approved design decisions.

Engineering & Cross-Functional Integration

· Work closely with mechanical design, structures, aerodynamics/CFD, propulsion, systems and manufacturing teams to ensure design intent is technically feasible.

· Adapt exterior surfaces and geometry based on aerodynamic feedback while protecting the vehicle's identity and visual quality.

· Respect structural zones, propulsion clearances, doors, service access, sensors, landing/ground interfaces, cooling paths and safety-related constraints.

· Participate in packaging studies for occupants, systems, energy storage, controls, luggage and serviceability.

· Collaborate on composite, sheet, machined, additive and prototype manufacturing decisions where surface quality and assembly affect the final design.

· Identify design risks early and propose visually strong alternatives rather than waiting for engineering conflicts to become rework.

Qualifications:

· Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Transportation Design, Product Design, Automotive Design or a closely related discipline; exceptional portfolio-based candidates may also be considered.

· Preferably 3+ years of relevant professional experience in industrial, automotive, transportation, mobility, aerospace or advanced product design.

· A strong portfolio is mandatory and should demonstrate original thinking, mature form development, polished 3D work and evidence of iterative design - not only rendering ability.

· Strong interest in aviation, vehicles, mobility and future transportation is required; direct aerospace or automotive experience is highly preferred.

· Experience working with engineers and adapting creative concepts to real constraints is strongly preferred.

· English proficiency sufficient for technical collaboration, software workflows, documentation and international team communication.

Mandatory Tools & Technical Capability:

· Advanced practical proficiency in Autodesk 3ds Max is mandatory.

· Strong 3D form development, polygonal/subdivision modeling, surface refinement, scene organization and model optimization skills.

· Ability to create photorealistic or presentation-quality renders using V-Ray, Corona, Arnold or an equivalent rendering workflow.

· Strong understanding of proportions, perspective, composition, materials, lighting and visual storytelling.

· Ability to work from engineering CAD references and accurately preserve dimensions, hard-points and packaging envelopes.

· Good command of Adobe Photoshop or equivalent visual-development tools.

· Experience with Rhino, Autodesk Alias, Blender, KeyShot, SolidWorks, Inventor or similar tools is a strong advantage, but does not replace the 3ds Max requirement.

Selection & Portfolio Review:

· Portfolio review is a core part of selection. Candidates should include their strongest transportation, vehicle, product or aerospace-related work and clearly identify their personal contribution.

· Shortlisted candidates may be asked to discuss the design rationale, constraints and iteration behind selected portfolio projects, and may be given a time-bounded practical design exercise where appropriate.

· HPS will prioritize exceptional design judgment, originality and the ability to work with real engineering constraints over software certificates alone.

Monthly Salay & Benefits:

To be determined based on experience and portfolio.

How to apply:

Interested, suitable professionals may also email their resumes to [email protected].