Field Service Engineer, Medium Voltage, Western (San Diego, CA)

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.

Field Service Engineer, Medium Voltage, Western (San Diego, CA)

• LOCATION AND WORK MODEL
• This position is field based and covers the Western region. Candidates must currently reside in the San Diego metropolitan area or within commuting distance of it. This position requires significant regional travel across the Western region, with occasional travel elsewhere in the United States. A company truck is provided, so no personal vehicle is required for site travel.

• WORK AUTHORIZATION
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full time basis. SMA America does not offer employment visa sponsorship of any kind, including H-1B, OPT, CPT, or TN visas. Candidates who currently require or will in the future require visa sponsorship are not eligible for this role. Candidates operating under a temporary work permit or any visa tied employment authorization are also not eligible.

• AI GENERATED APPLICATION MATERIALS
• We review all resumes and application materials for AI generated content. Submissions that show evidence of AI manipulation, including AI written resumes, cover letters, or responses, will be disqualified from consideration without further review. We want to hear your authentic voice and see your genuine experience.

• RECRUITMENT FRAUD NOTICE
• All SMA America openings are posted on our official careers page and all recruiter communication comes from an @sma-america.com address. We never request payment, banking information, or a Social Security number during the recruitment process. If you are contacted about an SMA America role from a personal email account, or asked for any of the above, please forward the message to [email protected] .

• PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
• The Field Service Engineer, Medium Voltage is responsible for the testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of SMA Medium Voltage systems in the field, including handling Medium Voltage escalations for SMA customers and suppliers. This role partners closely with the Medium Voltage engineering team at SMA AG to work through solutions for SMA U.S. customers and suppliers, and supports warranty repairs, technical support, and extensive testing of the internal workings of SMA Medium Voltage products.
• We are building this team across three experience levels. We currently have 3 openings across the Western region, filled across Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Diego. If you are early in your medium voltage career and coming from utility scale inverter commissioning, substation work, transformer service, military electrical service, or an electrical trade, we want to hear from you. If you are a seasoned medium voltage technician who leads crews and owns complex troubleshooting, we want to hear from you as well.

• WHAT WE PROVIDE
• You show up with your experience. We provide the rest.

A company truck, including fuel, insurance, and maintenance. You are not putting miles on your own vehicle.

Tools, work clothing, and safety footwear. You are not buying your own gear.

Medium voltage certification through the AVO Training Institute, sponsored by SMA, including course cost and travel.

Two to three weeks of inverter training at our headquarters in Rocklin, California, followed by field training alongside experienced technicians.

A defined three level technical career path with a clear line of sight from Level I to Level III.

• HOW THIS ROLE IS LEVELED
• This is one posting covering three levels. You apply once. We determine level during the interview process based on your experience, certifications, and the scope of work you are ready to own. Compensation is set to the level you are placed in.

Level I. Assists crews with testing, inspection, and maintenance under the direction of a senior technician. Focused on building foundational medium voltage skills, terminations, print reading, and safe work practice.

Level II. Performs testing, maintenance, and troubleshooting independently. Owns documentation and serves as a field point of contact for customers.

Level III. Leads crews and complex troubleshooting, approves reports and closure packages, mentors Level I and II technicians, and serves as the senior technical resource on site.

• PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• At every level:

Participates in daily job site safety briefings, proactively identifying, eliminating, and mitigating hazards.

Performs testing, inspection, maintenance, and repair of SMA Large Scale Medium Voltage systems in the field, including Medium Voltage transformer core testing, operations and maintenance, and site visits.

Conducts DGA sampling and applies the results of DGA reports to determine the correct course of action.

Regularly works with high voltage DC, three phase power, high AC voltage, and the related software and firmware of SMA products.

Completes accurate documentation, including test reports, discrepancy lists, and field service reports.

Performs and maintains maintenance activities in accordance with the SMA product maintenance manual on assigned sites with SMA customer contractual obligations.

Maintains accurate inventory count of spare parts provided by SMA, and maintains assigned tools and vehicle in safe working condition.

Maintains a high level of customer satisfaction while striving to lower the costs of field service expenditure.

Other duties may be assigned or required.

At Level II and above:

Performs independent troubleshooting of electrical and control systems, determining root cause and implementing corrective actions.

Repairs external leaks and performs cold weld patches on Medium Voltage transformers.

Serves as a field point of contact for customers, providing updates and addressing concerns on site.

Collaborates cross functionally with the Global Service Organization, Quality, and suppliers to provide customers with Root Cause Analysis of failures, and keeps customers informed of RCA status.

At Level III:

Leads crews in the testing, inspection, and maintenance of high, medium, and low voltage electrical equipment.

Applies expert knowledge of high voltage test equipment to identify root causes for SMA internal quality 8D reports.

Reviews and approves test reports, discrepancy lists, and project closure packages.

Works directly with Medium Voltage engineering counterparts at SMA AG for technical assistance and guidance on MV systems, attending meetings on a daily or weekly basis.

Trains, mentors, and qualifies Level I and Level II technicians, supporting their technical development and safe work practice.

Develops detailed knowledge to aid in the creation of processes and procedures for SMA Medium Voltage products and associated SMA or third par