Engineering Validation and Performance Team Lead

Job Title: Engineering Validation and Performance Team Lead

Department: Operations and R&D

Reporting to: Head of Product and R&D

Location: Berlin, Germany or Kampala, Uganda

About ENGIE Energy Access

ENGIE Energy Access is the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) and mini-grids solutions provider in Africa. The company develops innovative, off-grid solar solutions for homes, public services and businesses, enabling customers and distribution partners access to clean, affordable energy. The PAYGO solar home systems are financed through affordable instalments from $0.19 per day and the mini-grids foster economic development by enabling electrical productive use and triggering business opportunities for entrepreneurs in rural communities. With over 1,800 employees, operations in nine countries across Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), over 1.8 million customers and more than 9 million lives impacted so far, ENGIE Energy Access aims to impact 20 million lives across Africa by 2025.

www.engie-energyaccess.com

Job Purpose/Mission 

The Engineering Validation and Performance Team Lead (EV&P Lead) will be responsible for defining and delivering the product test/validation activities and for managing the post launch product performance. This will be achieved by working with the leaders of Product Management and R&D, to define and manage the development processes, drive the test and validation activities, and to implement agreed performance monitoring metrics (and corrective actions) for the product after launch. A critical part of the role will be to work with the Supply Chain organization to ensure an efficient NPI and handover to production.

The Product Performance Lead will oversee a team of test, validation, and production support engineers to deliver <and> maintain best in class product performance for a range of solar powered consumer devices for the emerging markets.

This role will be a combination of team management and hands-on engineering, suiting a candidate that is looking for a role that encompasses both team leadership whilst able to provide key technical/engineering know-how in their technical area of expertise. ENGIE Energy Access is looking for a self-motivated individual who has a demonstrated track record of overseeing technical teams and product success on consumer products.

Responsibilities:

• Managing the test and validation activities (including test plan generation and execution) across all in-house development activities
• Responsible for regular reviews of all products in the field, define and assess KPI’s for product performance, and (with input from R&D and others) implement corrective actions to maintain optimum organizational value-add of the product
• Coordinate with both R&D and Supply Chain organization to manage the NPI transition
• Work with Product Management organization to continuously ensure optimum product/market fit
• Facilitate regular time resource planning meetings and ensure reliable planning quality
• Provide leadership of the team, to grow and expand the skills-base as appropriate
• Escalate relevant problems in the team towards the Head of Product and R&D  

Knowledge and skills 

Mandatory Experience :

• Minimum 8-10 years of consumer product development  
• Experience in testing and validating hardware and firmware products, including Continuous Improvement techniques
• Familiar with supply chain and manufacturing organisations for NPI
• Experience in management of an engineering team, upto 8-10 people
• Ability to inspire and motivate people
• Experience in full product lifecycle
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, with a can-do attitude
• Able to work with cross-functional teams in multiple time-zones

Desirable Experience :

• Familiar with the most common IEC testing standards in the solar off-grid sector
• Experience in test automation and product verification/validation
• Previous roles working with international teams/cultures
• Exposure to Product Management activities would be desirable

Qualifications :

• BSc or greater in Engineering or similar technical discipline

 Language(s): 

• English
• German and/or Mandarin is a plus

We thank all applicants for their interest, however due to the large volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  

ENGIE is an equal opportunity employer, promoting diversity and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. All applications are screened based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without any regard to origin, age, name, sexual identity, orientation or preference, religion, marital status, health, disability, political opinions, union involvement or citizenship. Our differences are our strengths!