A creative automobile enthusiast with fresh ideas

When Bernardo Figueiredo was still an infant, as his mother relates to this day, his first word had to have been “car,” not “mama”. This story is certainly plausible. As an older child, Figueiredo was keen to know all the makes of automobile, and he liked nothing more than to spend hours by the roadside guessing the various models as they passed by. Naturally, he could hardly wait for the day when, the coveted license finally in hand, he would be able to sit behind the steering wheel himself. This love of the automobile was also what led the Portuguese native to enroll at the Technical University of Lisbon (IST) as a mechanical engineering student in 2008. In the last year of his master’s studies, Figueiredo took the opportunity to study abroad and chose to attend the university in Trondheim, Norway, as part of the Erasmus exchange program. His work on his master’s thesis brought him into contact with BENTELER Automotive in Raufoss and led to a direct offer of employment beginning in early 2014.

“I love cars. Their design, their shape, and the very act of driving—it’s all simply perfect. I chose to study mechanical engineering also because it allows me to pursue my passion for cars and design engineering in a professional capacity. It’s a challenging job because I have to reconcile design ideas with what’s technically feasible.”

Why BENTELER?

What many engineers find attractive about BENTELER is that the company’s activities encompass both development and production. Figueiredo loves the fact that, as a CAD Engineer, he can design an automobile part with 3D modelling and, a mere 100 meters away in the company’s own production plant, hold the physical result in his hands. Now in his mid-twenties, he has no inhibitions when it comes to embrace any good opportunities whenever it comes. He is open to them and will seize them accordingly.

“At BENTELER I’m able to work with highly motivated and capable colleagues whom I can learn from. As someone who is just beginning his professional career, I couldn’t wish for more encouragement. New ideas are welcomed! The mix of experienced employees and fresh recruits creates a very fertile environment for work. And because you spend so much time working with international colleagues, it quickly becomes apparent that BENTELER is a global player.”

Being creative and avoiding false starts

A certain amount of creativity is required especially for the job of a design engineer, which requires attention to detail, an ability to play with forms, and an aptitude for seeing the bigger picture. Figueiredo, a passionate surfer and diver, has an eye for these things, and he sees them reflected in nature all around him.

“In Portugal I had the great honor of being able to dive with a manta ray. These animals are huge, yet give the impression of being at one with the sea. Their motions as they glide through the water are streamlined and elegant. This was a tremendous experience and beautiful to behold!”

Figueiredo’s greatest passion, however, is and always has been driving, which exhibits certain parallels with his job. When he works on a project, he starts out with careful deliberation to create a solid foundation for his work. That way he can still shift down a gear if necessary. Figueiredo’s passion for driving is so great that he once drove his car from Lisbon all the way to Raufoss, passing through Madrid, Barcelona, Monaco, Swiss Alps, Germany, Copenhagen, and Oslo along the way. He is an enthusiastic driver who aims to drive some of the best roads in the world.

“If you approach a project or any new activity too quickly, you can quickly end up with a false start. It is considerably more effective to advance step by step, and that way you avoid mistakes.”