Solar Technical Specialist at Zola Electric

Position

• The Solar Technical Specialist role is a cross functional, technical role to assist in the creation of new solar products and features from ideation to launch.
• A skilled engineer to help install, test and document findings for new hardware prototypes that explore future technologies & user experiences.
• This role is primarily responsible for managing on the ground initiatives within the product pipeline, including identifying market and customer needs, developing and running prototype experiments, testing new products in market, documenting findings,  and supporting Pan-African new product roll-out.

Responsibilities
In more detail responsibilities cover:

• Lead product field testing, including coordinating product installations, collecting data logs, analyzing and consolidating customer feedback
• Ensure on-site safety for team members and customers
• Develop and document product technical requirements based on field surveys, customer insights and direct observation
• Coordinate with field engineering teams and product development teams to commission solar installations, and conduct basic troubleshooting.
• User testing & customer insight gathering
• Develop a deep technical and market-based expertise on our core and future products
• Employ human-centered design techniques while conducting research to identify customer needs and market opportunities
• Monitor and report on products’ quality, adoption, and user reactions throughout the product life-cycle
• Define market requirements, test new concepts, and facilitating the introduction of new products to market
• Assist technical hardware developers with customer insights, field trial support and collaboration with commercial teams
• Drive continuous improvement and ongoing innovation throughout the product lifecycle
• Act as a coordinating point of contact between departments that delivers well-positioned products to the market
• Develop analysis tools for building the internal business case for new products and offerings
• Manage various projects from start-to-finish as the project lead including planning, budget, contract development, customer outreach, etc.
• Design, plan, and execute pilots for learning, iterating, and introducing new products and customer offerings across multiple African markets
• Act as the primary interface with customers during product trials and testing maintaining a positive relationship and prioritizing customer satisfaction
• Collect inputs, update and report findings to cross functional groups and company leadership
• Identify, vet and negotiate contracts with local agencies for solar installations, marketing testing, etc.

Requirements
Our ideal candidate has product management, business administration or marketing experience with a degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent. You will be a critical player in executing on our product strategy:

• Bachelor / Master in Electrical Engineering, with over 3 years of working as Electrical Engineer
• Experience in emerging-frontier markets and delivering products in those markets
• Certifications and training in project, program or product management
• Previous experience working in African markets and in solar or energy production
• In-field experience as electrical engineer and interfacing with energy customers
• Knowledge of market dynamics, technology and competition to synthesize into product strategy
• Knowledge of project management principles and financial principles
• Knowledge of energy systems, solar and battery technology, and electronics
• Collaboration skills to contribute and lead cross functional teams
• Analytical and troubleshooting skills
• Proficiency in English, basic working proficiency in one or more of the following languages: French, Swahili, Twi, Ga.
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Innovative and quality focused
• Collaborative, customer focused and deadline driven
• Based in Lagos, Nigeria with frequent travel to West African markets.
• Occasional travel to additional international offices.
• Frequent interfacing with counterparts in other offices via video conferencing.