Failure Analysis Engineer

SolarEdge Technologies; Milpitas (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SolarEdge Technologies in Milpitas, CA is seeking a Failure Analysis Engineer to own end-to-end investigations of power electronic hardware, including field returns, prototypes, and in-lab anomalies, and to design smart test plans tied to each failure mode.

You will build custom test setups, operate lab instruments such as oscilloscopes, power analyzers, curve tracers and high-voltage supplies, and translate findings into actionable reports that guide design and reliability teams.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent hands-on electronics experience.
• Strong curiosity and ability to chase root cause to a clear, defendable conclusion.
• Solid knowledge of power electronics, switching, magnetics, gate drive, thermal management.
• Hands-on hardware debugging, testing, and validation in a lab.
• Ability to build and adapt test setups, including soldering and wiring.
• Experience with safety practices up to 690V (LOTO, arc flash).

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of failure investigations on power electronic hardware.
• Create smart, practical investigation plans tailored to each failure mode.
• Investigate and characterize failures across power conversion topologies.
• Build, modify, and troubleshoot custom test setups from the ground up.
• Operate and interpret results from lab equipment (oscilloscopes, analyzers, curve tracers, HV supplies).
• Conduct materials-level analysis and metallurgical inspection where needed.
• Translate findings into crisp, actionable reports for design and reliability teams.

Skills

Failure investigations

Test setup design

Lab equipment operation

Root cause analysis

Technical reporting

Electrical safety

Education

Electrical/Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Power analyzers

Curve tracers

Function generators

Thermal cameras

High-voltage power supplies

Job description

At SolarEdge (NASDAQ: SEDG), we're a global leader in smart energy technology, with over 4,000 employees, offices in 34 countries, and millions of installations worldwide.

Our innovative solutions include solar inverters, battery storage, backup systems, EV charging, and AI-based energy management. We're committed to making clean, green energy the primary power source for homes, businesses, and beyond.

With the growing demand for electricity, the need for smart, clean energy sources is constantly rising. SolarEdge offers amazing opportunities to develop your skills in a multidisciplinary environment, covering everything from research and development to production and customer supply. Work with talented colleagues, tackle exciting challenges, and help create a sustainable future in an industry that's always evolving and innovating. Join us and be part of a company that values creativity, agility, and impactful work.

Join a fast-moving engineering team where your curiosity, grit, and hands-on problem-solving skills will directly improve the reliability of power electronics in the field. We are looking for a Failure Analysis Engineer who loves digging into tough hardware problems, building creative test setups, and turning complex failures into clear technical answers.

This is not a sit-back-and-follow-the-checklist role. You will own investigations end to end, move quickly from evidence to insight, and work closely with engineering teams to help make products stronger, safer, and more reliable. If you are energized by mystery-solving, high-voltage hardware, and the chance to make a visible impact, this role is built for you.

Location: Milpitas, CA

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Take ownership of failure investigations on power electronic hardware, including field returns, prototype failures, and in-lab anomalies.
• Create smart, practical investigation plans tailored to each failure mode, deciding what to test, measure, inspect, and validate.
• Investigate and characterize failures across power conversion topologies including DC-DC converters, isolated buck converters, dual active bridge (DAB), inverters, and related power electronic circuits.
• Build, modify, and troubleshoot custom test setups from the ground up, including wiring, soldering, crimping, instrumentation, and fixture configuration.
• Operate and interpret results from lab equipment: oscilloscopes, power analyzers, curve tracers, function generators, thermal cameras, and high-voltage power supplies.
• Conduct materials-level analysis including cross-sectioning, metallographic inspection, and examination of thermal and mechanical damage.
• Work safely and confidently on systems up to 690V while following rigorous electrical safety practices, including LOTO, arc flash awareness, and energized-equipment protocols.
• Support investigations in varied physical environments, including equipment rooms and elevated platforms, with the ability to lift and maneuver heavy equipment as needed.
• Translate findings into crisp, actionable reports that help design, reliability, and engineering teams move faster and make better decisions.

Job Requirements

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent hands-on experience, vocational training, or self-taught expertise in electronics will also be strongly considered.
• Relentless curiosity and the drive to chase root cause until the technical story is clear, complete, and defensible.
• Solid working knowledge of power electronics, including switching behavior, magnetics, gate drive circuits, thermal management, and common power conversion topologies.
• Hands-on experience debugging, testing, and validating real hardware in the lab, not just analyzing circuits on paper or in simulation.
• Confidence building and adapting test setups independently, including soldering THT and SMD components, crimping terminals, routing wiring, and selecting the right equipment for the job.
• Strong safety background and demonstrated experience working confidently on low-voltage systems up to 690V — including LOTO, arc flash awareness, and safe practices around energized equipment.
• Comfort working at heights and in physically demanding environments, including the ability to lift and maneuver heavy equipment.
• Familiarity with materials or metallurgical analysis, such as cross-sectioning, failure-surface inspection, SEM, or similar methods, is a strong plus.
• Strong mechanical intuition, whether developed through formal training, machining, mechanical design, fabrication, motorsports, model building, or other hands-on technical work.
• A self-starter mindset with the ability to prioritize, make sound technical calls, and keep momentum without waiting for step-by-step direction.

FAIR PAY & A JUST WORKPLACE

SolarEdge proudly seeks to build a richly diverse workforce by hiring people with a diversity of thoughts, identities, perspectives, and experiences that help advance the difference we make for consumers, and by ensuring our people experience equity and inclusion in their work lives. We encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, LGBTQIA people, people of color, and people with disabilities.