Senior Field Engineer - Solar Nonprofit

*We Care Solar*
is an award-winning U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening health care and education in under-resourced countries by improving access to clean, reliable electricity. Since 2010, We Care Solar has designed and delivered compact, durable solar electric systems to energy-deficient health centers and schools, replacing candles and kerosene lanterns with bright, efficient LED lights and power for essential devices.

*Solar for Healthcare*
: We Care Solar has worked with more than 75 partners across 50 countries, installing reliable solar power at more than 10,000 health facilities, supporting more than 23 million mothers and newborns to date. The We Care Solar Suitcase® is a compact solar electric system for medical lighting, mobile communication, and essential medical devices. Our Light Every Birth initiative is transforming maternal health care at the national level in select countries in Africa.

*Solar for Education:*
Our hands-on STEM education program empowers students to learn about solar as a solution to local and global energy access challenges while gaining skills in engineering, electricity, and problem solving while assembling specialized Solar Suitcase Learning Kits. We Share Solar’s largest programs are in the United States, notably Minnesota, California, Illinois, and Florida. We have run STEM education programs in East Africa with a goal of expanding this program to African countries aligned with our Light Every Birth programming.

Position Overview:

The Senior Field Engineer will provide engineering and technical support across the organization, with a primary focus on field support. This role will lead all technical aspects of maintenance & sustainability across all countries of operation, supporting all models of the Solar Suitcase. The ideal candidate works hard without a lot of supervision, is willing to help out with any task required, and is eager to work on a team for a common vision. International and domestic travel may be required up to 7% of time (2-3 weeklong trips per year).

The Senior Field Engineer is a full-time remote position, reporting to the Director of Engineering (based in Colorado). While the organization’s head office is in Berkeley, CA, team members work remotely throughout the world, with most daily collaboration occurring virtually. The team is highly collaborative and mission driven, with periodic in-person gathering throughout the year to strengthen connection and advance key initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

*Service, maintenance, and sustainability 60%*

• Create and manage a long-term service/maintenance infrastructure for Solar Suitcases across all countries of operation
• Work with Programs and Operations Departments to strengthen in-country incident reporting, tracking, and resolution process
• Develop and maintain training materials and support planning and execution of technician trainings at all levels
• Lead in-person field trainings for advanced technicians and deliver additional trainings as needed
• Create and maintain clear documentation for common maintenance procedures
• Build and maintain strong relationships with field technicians in regional maintenance centers to support timely and effective repairs
• Monitor all high-priority field issues to identify (within reason) the root cause and work with component manufacturers and vendors resolve issues, including driving design improvements when needed
• Identify and evaluate in-country sourcing options for hard-to-ship items like lithium batteries and PV panels
• Help define and improve key performance metrics related to field sustainability and system performance
• Advise on regional spare parts inventories for maintenance centers

*Manufacturing 15%*

• Help manage inventory of long-lead-time components we source (PV panels, batteries, electronics, tool kits, etc.)
• Assist with ongoing manufacturing documentation creation & maintenance
• Review and analyze electronic component specifications in order to accept, reject, or identify suitable alternatives
• Help with year-end inventory reconciliation across multiple manufacturing sites
• Establish and improve systems for managing parts manufacturing, storage, distribution, installation, and returns (as necessary)
• Attend weekly meetings with all manufacturers and suppliers, and stay familiar with ongoing supply and manufacturing issues

*Programmatic support 10%*

• Support technical trainings (remote & in-person) as necessary; 2-3 international and domestic trips per year
• Partner with the Programs team on technical documentation, installation reviews, quality control assessments, and service planning
• Collaborate with Programs and Operations Departments to develop demand forecasts and align manufacturing schedules and procurement plans

*Design 10%*

• Design new parts for both upcoming & legacy systems as necessary
• Improve existing hardware/software designs & documentation
• Lead special engineering projects, from definition to delivery

*Regulatory 5%*

• Get Dangerous Goods Shipper certified and become competent on regulations, agencies, required documentation, trends, etc. of shipping lithium batteries
• Create, manage, and upkeep of shipment documentation systems including Dangerous Goods forms, palletization drawings, and labeling
• Coordinate with testing and certification agencies (UL, TUV, CE, SGS, etc.) as needed to support product testing, compliance, and shipment readiness

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Electrical Engineering preferred)
• Minimum 10 years of relevant engineering experience
• Experience working with healthcare power systems in resource-constrained settings, preferably in Africa
• Experience working on solar power projects within an international non-profit context
• Experience managing bills of materials (BOM), including part sourcing and manufacturing workflows
• Proficiency with Autodesk Inventor or similar 3D CAD software; ability to create and maintain part drawings
• Working knowledge of firmware, programming, and scripting languages (PERL, Python); ability to parse and process text or binary log data
• Experience with command line interfaces, serial communications, and/or ssh
• Hands-on experience with construction and installation, including working at heights, using tools, installing solar systems, and identifying installation issues
• Experience creating and maintaining technical documentation
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
• Ability to operate effectively in a small, cross-functional organization with diverse stakeholders (e.g. contract manufacturers, engineering, programs, finance)
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally 2-3 times per year and work occasional non-standard hours to support global operations

We Care Solar’s work has earned global recognition for advancing reliable solar electricity in healthcare and education. Recent honors include selection as an awardee of Pivotal Ventures’ 2025 Action for Women’s Health, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Africa Solar Industry Association for co-founder Dr. Laura Stachel. The organization is also a recipient of the Zayed Sustainability Prize and the UNFCCC Momentum for Change Award, and has been featured by leading global media, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and BBC World News.

We are a mission focused organization and team that likes to have fun while doing serious work. Our team includes global staff from seven of our priority countries in Africa and U.S.-based staff across seven states. Many of our team members have been with We Care Solar for more than five years. We are extremely committed to providing a positive and flexible work environment (virtually and in-person) while ensuring that we are able to deliver cost effective programs with high impact.

What We Offer

- Mission-driven work
. Our work has a direct impact for millions of mothers and newborns. You will see and feel the impact of your work on a daily basis.
- Competitive salaries
.
A competitive salary commensurate with experience and based on geographic location.
- Comprehensive benefits
. Health, dental, eye insurance, 28+ paid vacation days and holidays, paid family leave, and employer contributed IRA.
- Flexible work schedule
. We pride ourselves on offering a flexible and fun environment while achieving our mission. You’ll have autonomy to create a schedule that brings your best work, including working remotely and setting hours of work.
- Strong culture
. A working environment that values humility, integrity, inclusion, professional growth, and learning.
- Talented and dedicated team
. A collaborative, hard-working, international team that is willing to do what it takes to get the job done, is committed to learning and improving, but laughs often and creates time for having fun.