Position: Electrical Test Engineer

Reporting to: Senior Manager, Quality Control

Location: Nanyuki, Kenya

Role Type: Full-time

About SunCulture

Founded in 2012, SunCulture’s Vision is to build a world where people take control of their environment in rewarding and sustainable ways. SunCulture does this by developing and commercializing life changing technology that solves the biggest daily challenges for the world's 570 million smallholder farming households. We are the largest distributor of solar water pumps / solar irrigation for smallholder farmers in Africa and were selected by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2021. Here is a good explainer video recently made by CNBC. Over the last 5 years the company has grown significantly and now employs 400+ people around the world.

About the role

SunCulture has reached an exciting phase in its development and is poised for significant growth. The organization needs an experienced Electrical Test Engineer who is responsible for understanding the technical requirements of various projects and programs within Research & Development, drafting and executing test plans, and preparing detailed test reports for all key stakeholders.

Note: This role requires frequent travel and applicants should be comfortable with relocation to SunCulture’s R&D Office in Nanyuki.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with team members and disciplines to test and debug control implementations in the operational SunCulture system environment.

• Validation of Prototypes and Commercial Samples

• Use SunCulture specific tools to program control units and carry out firmware tests

• Collaborate with the product and embedded systems engineering teams to draft & execute detailed test plans

• Routine standardized firmware and Hardware Testing

• Identify and root cause hardware defects and firmware bugs and track release notes

  • Identify hardware and firmware bugs, perform root cause analysis and track release notes

  • Maintain complete and accurate documentations for product bugs in order of priority

• Perform flow, power, and efficiency tests for SunCulture water pumps

• Clearly document all tests carried out and present data clearly & concisely through slide decks or written reports as needed

• Continuously update detailed changelogs to track the history of all devices under test

• Provide technical support for customers using SunCulture’s pilot products

• Transfer knowledge & train internal teams on new products when transitioning from pilot stages through commercialization

Does This Sound Like You?

• 2+ years of experience in embedded systems firmware and hardware testing

• BEng/BSc.in Electrical/Electronics/Mechatronics Engineering; Masters degree a plus

• Practical knowledge and hands-on experience with embedded systems (hardware and firmware)

  • Hardware:

    • Understanding of fundamental principles of solar energy gathering and converting;

    • Basic knowledge of DC/DC converter topology and principles of operation;

    • Skills in probing PCBs for issues & experience working with multimeters and oscilloscopes

    • Ability to read and understand PCB schematics;

    • Eagle CAD experience is a plus;

  • Firmware

    • Ability to log firmware issues (maintain a bug tracker), troubleshoot and provide feedback to the embedded systems engineering team;

    • Experience with flashing different types of devices - ESP32, Atmel AVR, NRF51/52, etc.

    • Atmel AVR and ESP32 debugging experience is a plus;

• Understanding of hardware requirements and design considerations for off-grid solar energy systems

• Experience working in the off-grid solar sector; solar water pumping systems a plus

• T2/T3 license from the Energy Regulatory Commission of Kenya is a plus

• Excellent research and very strong interpersonal skills and ability to connect with diverse team members

• Excellent task prioritization and time management skills

• A proven record of ability to work with minimal supervision

• Able to fluently communicate in English

• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to plan, organize, and execute to meeting deadlines in a fast-evolving environment

• Strong verbal and written communication skills