Rina Suka: How long have you been working at KYBURZ?

Joel Damasio: I've been part of the KYBURZ team since 1 December 2023.

Rina: How did you hear about us?

Joel: My wife Diana, who was already working in the Fleet Team, heard about a vacancy in her team that matched my qualifications.

Rina: What did you do before KYBURZ?

Joel: Before I came to Switzerland, I worked in Portugal. Firstly as a software developer for energy management software. Then I immersed myself in the world of automotive systems engineering at Continental Engineering Services, where I was involved in the development of a control unit for a new car.

When I moved to Switzerland about a year ago, I worked in Lucerne on the development of a control unit for a Swiss-made aircraft before joining KYBURZ.

Rina: What are your strengths?

Joel: My strengths are my communication skills, objectivity, organisation and friendliness.

Rina: What motivates you?

Joel: My team is wonderful and I really enjoy the dynamic environment. It's a very inspiring company. Electric vehicles are of particular interest to me, as I did my Master's degree in the field of electric vehicles and electric machines. I was very fascinated and interested in this topic, which is why I can identify with KYBURZ's vision.

Rina: What does your typical day look like?

Joel: My typical daily activities are varied and depend on customer needs. Occasionally it is necessary for me to visit customers and my tasks become more hands-on. This may involve a demonstration of our system, training for a new installation or troubleshooting directly on the vehicle. In terms of work, I provide software support and work closely with Mario.

As I was born in Lausanne before moving to Portugal with my family, I also speak fluent French. I now have a lot of contact with our French-speaking partners and KYBURZ customers.

Rina: What do you particularly like about KYBURZ?

Joel: I like the fact that a Swiss company manufactures its own Swiss electric vehicles in Switzerland and sells them internationally.

Rina: What do you like to do in your free time?

Joel: In Portugal, I used to go surfing a lot in my free time. I also started brewing beer at home with my friends during the Covid pandemic. Since I've been in Switzerland, I've enjoyed snowboarding and would like to do it more often. I like to go hiking with my wife and our dogs and enjoy going to parties and barbecues.

Rina: What are your plans for the future?

Joel: My plans for the future include improving my knowledge and learning more about management. I want to focus less on technology and more on management in the future. I'm also planning to buy a house in a few years. I'm thinking about staying here long-term, taking early retirement and travelling the world - that's my dream.