Why Work at SMA America
Power the future. Build your career at SMA America.
As the U.S. subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, we have been at the forefront of solar inverter technology since 1981, developing solutions that make photovoltaic power plants simpler, more reliable, safer, and more cost effective. Headquartered in Rocklin, California, SMA America has spent more than two decades helping homes, businesses, and utilities across the country generate clean, reliable power. We are the only inverter manufacturer in the world offering solutions for every system size, from residential rooftops to large scale utility plants, backed by more than 1,500 patents and a presence in over 190 countries.
Innovation is only part of the story. We invest in our people, create room to grow, challenge conventional thinking, and protect a culture where teammates genuinely care about each other and the work. We hire capable people and give them the space to do the job, with clear expectations, open door leadership, and real autonomy.
If you are passionate about driving positive change and want a career where you can take ownership of your work, we would love to meet you. Together, we are not just part of the energy transition, we are helping drive it forward.
Senior Root Cause Analysis Engineer
PURPOSE OF POSITION
The Senior Root Cause Analysis Engineer ensures customer satisfaction and protects SMA's brand quality through evidence based root cause analysis and collaboration with internal and external experts. Working with cross functional and international teams, including SMA's global headquarters in Germany, this role drives sustainable corrective and preventive actions across the product lifecycle of SMA's medium voltage solutions, including transformers, switchgear, and converters.
PRIMARY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
- Ensure analyses are evidence based, documented in compliance with standards and global processes, and aligned with the requirements of internal and external stakeholders.
- Perform and participate in technical failure and data analyses.
- Apply the 8D method for systematic root cause identification.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary and international teams to implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
- Conduct initial site analyses and on site technical evaluations, and provide technical consultation.
- 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 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.
- Execute, monitor, and evaluate corrective actions implemented by service teams and suppliers.
- 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 RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent education. Master's degree preferred.
- Minimum 7 years of experience in research and development, technical failure analysis, and quality management, with a background in customer relations.
- Technical expertise in medium voltage systems, including transformers and switchgear, electrical systems, and converters.
- Expertise in the 8D method for corrective action and quality tools including 5 Why, Ishikawa diagramming, and Pareto analysis.
- Experience in solar, automotive, aerospace, electronics, or a similar regulated industry.
- Ability to present quality 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 is required. Proficiency in German is a plus.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, is required.
- Experience with hermetically sealed equipment is a plus.
- Working knowledge of SAP, Salesforce, and JIRA is a plus.
- Extent of responsibility: Regional.
WE OFFER
- Compensation: $106,000 to $138,000 per year, dependent on experience and qualifications.
- 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.
- 401(k) plan with company match.
- Tuition reimbursement and opportunities for professional development and training.
- Inclusive, collaborative, and innovative work environment.
Our EEO Policy
We are an equal opportunity employer and we make our employment decisions on the basis of merit and without regard to one's race, color, creed, sex (includes gender, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity, religion, marital status, age (over 40), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability (includes HIV/Aids), medical condition (cancer, genetic characteristics), veteran's status, sexual orientation, or any other consideration made unlawful by law.
In accordance with applicable law protecting qualified individuals with known disabilities, SMA will attempt to reasonably accommodate qualified applicants with known disabilities, unless doing so would create an undue hardship on SMA. Any qualified applicant with a disability who believes he or she requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions of the job for which he or she is applying should identify the accommodation(s) needed in the application.
Our Privacy Policy
During your job application or recruitment process with us: (a) SMA may collect your personal information directly from you, such as when you submit your application and resume on our online portal or when you have job interviews with us. We may also obtain your personal information from third parties, including but not limited to your former employers, background or employment check service providers or third-party recruiters; and, (b) SMA may use or process applicants' personal information for relevant purposes including but not limited to general communications with you, identity verification, background or employment checks, determination of eligibility, and making hiring decisions. For successful job applicants who become SMA's staff, we may retain and integrate your personal information collected during the recruitment process into your records at SMA.
If you are a California resident, you have specific rights regarding your personal information under the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, as amended including by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020, and its implementing regulations (the "CCPA"). This Company Personnel and Covered Individuals Privacy Notice for California Residents issued by SMA is applicable to you and explains your CCPA rights and our collection, use or disclosure of your personal information.
If you have any question regarding our privacy policy, please contact us at [email protected]
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, electrical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent education
- Minimum 7 years of experience in research and development, technical failure analysis, and quality management, with customer relations experience
- Technical expertise in medium-voltage systems, transformers, switchgear, electrical systems, and converters
- Expertise in the 8D method, 5 Why, Ishikawa diagramming, and Pareto analysis
- Experience in solar, automotive, aerospace, electronics, or a similar regulated industry
- Ability to present quality 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 customer sites and the Rocklin, California office
- Availability for occasional early-morning meetings with headquarters in Germany
- Proficiency in written and verbal English
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Master's degree
- Proficiency in German
- Experience with hermetically sealed equipment
- Working knowledge of SAP, Salesforce, and JIRA
What We Do
Innovative and sustainable key technologies are prerequisites for renewable energy supply. More than 3,000 employees from 18 countries work to ensure that SMA is actively helping to promote the production and development of PV system technology worldwide. SMA is the only inverter manufacturer worldwide that offers the right inverter for every module type and system size ; for small residential systems, medium-sized commercial systems and large-scale plants; grid-connected photovoltaic systems; and off-grid and hybrid systems. SMA also develops technologically leading system solutions and is on the leading edge of the energy of the future, in areas such as intelligent optimization of self-consumption, grid integration of solar power and integration of batteries for more effective use of renewable energies. The intention of this LinkedIn profile is to share expert knowledge in inverter technology, interesting reference projects and new products in the field of commercial and large-scale solar power plants and to discuss today’s and future energy supply structures and solutions. We are looking forward to your comments, questions and feedback. Corporate information: https://www.sma.de/en/corporate-information.html Data Protection: https://www.sma.de/en/data-protection-declaration.html
