Quick Summary
Why Work at SMA America At SMA America , we believe in Energy that Changes . Since 1981, we’ve been developing innovative solar technology that simplifies, secures, and enhances the performance of photovoltaic systems — all while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in clean energy.
What We Offer
~2 min readPower 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
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.
Responsibilities
~1 min read- →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.
- 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 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.
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 US_DataPrivacy@sma-america.com
Location & Eligibility
Listing Details
- First seen
- March 26, 2026
- Last seen
- September 29, 2026
Posting Health
- Days active
- 186
- Repost count
- 0
- Trust Level
- 51%
- Scored at
- September 29, 2026
Signal breakdown
Stay ahead of the market
Get the latest job openings, salary trends, and hiring insights delivered to your inbox every week.
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.