Senior Electrical Test and Failure Investigation Engineer, Medium Voltage
Senior Electrical Test and Failure Investigation Engineer, Medium Voltage
Purpose of the Position
The Senior Electrical Test and Failure Investigation Engineer protects SMA’s customers and brand quality by personally testing, troubleshooting and investigating field failures on SMA’s medium voltage solutions, including transformers, switchgear and converters, and driving each one to an evidence based root cause. This is a hands on field engineering role focused on electrical testing and failure investigation at the equipment level. It is not a quality process or supplier quality position. Working with cross functional and international teams, including SMA’s global headquarters in Germany, the role drives sustainable corrective and preventive actions across the product lifecycle.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Lead hands on field investigations of failed medium voltage transformers, switchgear and converters, including site inspection, electrical testing, teardown and evidence collection.
Perform and interpret medium voltage electrical tests, and use the results with physical damage analysis to determine the failure mechanism and specific root cause.
Document each investigation using SMA’s 8D process, supported by tools such as 5 Why, Ishikawa diagramming and Pareto analysis.
Ensure analyses are evidence based, documented in compliance with standards and global processes, and aligned with the requirements of internal and external stakeholders.
Conduct initial site analyses and on site technical evaluations, and provide technical consultation to customers and service teams.
Create detailed failure descriptions and collaborate with headquarters to advise and support other functions.
Recognize and document known failure patterns and provide technical expertise to resolve them.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary and international teams to implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
Execute, monitor and evaluate corrective actions implemented by service teams and suppliers, and confirm their effectiveness.
Collaborate closely with Customer Quality, Supplier Quality and regional functions.
Maintain close collaboration with the analysis unit at SMA headquarters and the application engineering team in the U.S.
Travel approximately 20 to 30% to customer sites for failure investigation and fact gathering, and to the Rocklin, CA office and tradeshows as needed.
Other duties as may be required or assigned.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, engineering or a related field, or equivalent education and experience. Master’s degree preferred.
Minimum 7 years of combined experience in electrical testing, field service, failure investigation, research and development or quality engineering, including customer facing work.
Hands on field failure investigation experience on medium voltage equipment, roughly 1 kV to 35 kV, such as transformers, switchgear or converters. This is the primary focus of the role and may come from the solar, utility, power generation or electrical testing industries, or from medium voltage work in another industry.
Demonstrated ability to identify the failure mechanism and specific root cause of a medium voltage equipment failure using site evidence, electrical test results and physical damage analysis.
Experience applying structured root cause methods such as 8D, 5 Why, Ishikawa diagramming and Pareto analysis.
Ability to present findings and corrective actions to senior leadership.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills across cross functional and international teams.
Ability to travel approximately 20 to 30%, including to customer sites and the Rocklin, CA office.
Availability for occasional early morning meetings with headquarters in Germany.
Proficiency in written and verbal English. Proficiency in German is a plus.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience performing or interpreting medium voltage electrical tests, such as insulation resistance, power factor, turns ratio, dissolved gas analysis, contact resistance and breaker timing.
NETA Level III or IV certification, or equivalent electrical testing credentials.
Experience with an electrical testing services firm, a utility, or a transformer or switchgear OEM field service group.
Experience with hermetically sealed equipment.
Working knowledge of SAP, Salesforce and JIRA.
Extent of responsibility: Regional.
We Offer
Compensation: $120,000 to $150,000 per year, dependent on experience and qualifications, with flexibility above this range for a candidate who clearly exceeds the requirements.
Eligibility for a discretionary annual profit sharing bonus.
Comprehensive benefits including health, dental and vision coverage, including $0 premium options.
Work Model: Remote within the United States. Hybrid or in office presence is preferred for candidates within commuting distance of our Rocklin, CA headquarters.
401k plan with company match.
Tuition reimbursement and opportunities for professional development and training.
A collaborative and innovative work environment.