Company Description
Uncover hidden opportunities to make a global impact. Zola Electric is a growth-stage start up that’s on track to light a million homes in Africa over the next couple of years with clean, affordable solar energy. At the heart of our business is innovative solutions that delight our customers. We are looking for a Field Quality Engineer to join our team in Arusha, Tanzania, to support our growth strategy in Africa, changing the lives of millions with our innovative products.
This may be your dream job if you’re someone who dreams of combining your knowledge and skills enabling Zola Electric to change the renewable energy landscape. You’ll also need to be passionate about bringing solar energy to off-grid and other underserved markets (billions of people around the world) with the unique social, technical, and business challenges that come along with it. You are inspired by the opportunity to unleash whole continents of human potential, and motivated to help build a truly epic business.
Position
The Field Quality Engineer will determine the overall product quality based on evaluation of detailed requirements, customer feedback, and test results. The job also involves designing and troubleshooting prototypes that explore future technologies & user experiences. The Quality Engineer will work with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations to address and improve quality/reliability and manufacturability issues. Work will require leadership of cross-functional teams and close cooperation with the customer facing team in East and West Africa. The Field Quality Engineer will:
- Track and manage Quality Improvement projects.
- Determine the overall product quality based on evaluation of detailed requirements, customer feedback and test results.
- Work with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations.
- Develop test plans
- Run field testing, coordinate product installations, collect and analyze data, report customer feedback to the Field Quality Engineering Manager
- Setup sustaining product repair processes for debugging and repair of new products.
- Author and manage execution of product repair processes for debugging and repair of products
- Track field failure rate and drive resolution leveraging the cross functional team for in market products
- Train a team of technicians and design and troubleshoot electronic-based prototypes.
Requirements
- Bachelors of science in Electrical, Electronics or Mechanical engineering;
- Post-graduate experience in electronics design, troubleshooting and testing
- 3 - 5 years of post-graduate experience in testing & troubleshooting complex hardware and software systems.
- Hands-on experience in prototyping, troubleshooting, and manufacturing support for embedded systems.
- Proven post-graduate experience in C or other embedded system languages.
- Proficiency in English, Swahili and/or French
- Experience working with renewable energy technologies.
- Familiarity with AC/DC converters
- Data analysis experience using data management software (MS Excel, SQL Looker etc.)
- Technical writing and lean manufacturing skills
- Design for Excellence (DFx)
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Proficiency in analysis tools (MS Excel, SQL & Looker)
- Detail oriented, recordkeeping skills
- Ability to drive issues to closure and influence change using clear communication skills
Other information
About Zola Electric
Zola Electric, through its consumer brand Zola, combines Silicon Valley technology with local expertise to offer African homes and businesses a long-term solar solution to an unreliable grid. Adaptable to both energy needs and income, Zola Electric’s solution can be bought over time through a leasing structure. The first few watts starts a chain reaction that enables people to achieve commonly held aspirations: security, education, access to information, and a longer and more efficient day.
Today, Zola Electric powers more than 100,000 homes and businesses across Tanzania, Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire. Zola Electric’s investors include: SolarCity, Vulcan Capital, DBL Partners, The Packard Foundation, Helios Investment Partners, and responsibility. Zola Electric is the recipient of the 2016 UN Momentum for Change Award, Zayed Future Energy Prize, and the 2015 Global Cleantech 100. For more information, visit www.offgrid-electric.com
