We are looking for a hands-on, high-energy tinkerer to help us build resilient, sustainable energy for humans. You will be conducting tests & experiments in support of R&D, production, and marketing of shade-tolerant solar products.

The ideal candidate is:

• A self-starter and self-teacher that can independently configure, wire, and mount a small off-grid solar + battery power system with data-logging, as a 2wk intro project, regardless of prior experience with solar/electrical
• Comfortable working with ready-to-use scripts and programs via a command line interface
• Familiar with fundamental concepts in BOTH mechanical and electrical engineering
• Confident in learning to use unfamiliar, complex lab equipment quickly; with some support from expert consultants and teammates
• Able to design and run well-documented experiments
• Comfortable writing detailed SoPs and training new operators
• Comfortable self-managing (with support) and knows their way around an agile workflow
• Ready to take serious ownership at a fast growing early-stage startup

Bonus points for:

• Familiarity with solar power systems, solar testing, QA, QC
• Familiarity with power electronics
• Relevant industry certifications
• Exposure to 3D printing, power tools, PCBA assembly, soldering, and/or other prototyping and lab tools
• Familiarity with unix command line
• Familiarity with electrical/electronics lab equipment mentioned in Responsibilities below

Are you worried that you don’t check all the boxes? Apply anyway! There are no perfect candidates— we hire people, not resumés. Take a look at the responsibilities listed below, and see if you think it’s a fit.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Conducting field & lab/bench testing daily with and without specific direction
• Taking initiative to continually demonstrate our products’ key technical advantages with hard data
• Independently searching for critical failure modes
• Supporting root cause analysis
• Working with our Platform Engineer and Chief Architect to build lab test stations
• Running lab tests using test equipment such as:
• Datalogger, power analyzer, multimeter
• Sun simulator, electroluminescence tester
• Hi-pot tester
• Environmental chamber
• Programmable DC load, DC power supply, AC load
• Writing and refining test procedures (TSoPs)
• Organizing and maintaining comprehensive documentation on test procedures, test parameters, and test results

Optivolt is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in hiring folks from any and every background and lived experience–not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it makes our team stronger. Folks of all genders who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, trans, non-binary, disabled, parents, are/have been system-impacted, immigrants, and anyone who has experienced systemic oppression are encouraged to apply.