Test Engineer
Okra Solar
Company Overview
Okra Solar
Porto, Portugal
2016
Approximately 50 employees (source: rocketreach.co). Revenue of $5.4 million in 2023 (source: rocketreach.co).
What They Do
Okra Solar is a private technology startup specializing in providing sustainable electrical infrastructure for off-grid communities. The company develops solar mesh systems that interconnect solar panels, batteries, and low-voltage lines, enabling dynamic energy sharing without the need for centralized grids. Its flagship product, the Okra Pod, is a control unit that manages energy distribution for up to 1.2 kW of instantaneous AC output per household, utilizing IoT technology and AI-enabled cloud software (source: autodesk.com). The company primarily serves last-mile energy developers in regions facing energy poverty, such as Nigeria, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, where over 30 million households still lack access to electricity (source: seforall.org). Okra Solar's modular systems are designed for rapid deployment at a significantly lower cost than traditional mini-grids, allowing communities to access power for productive appliances like refrigerators and pumps (source: autodesk.com).
Projects & History
Okra Solar has an impressive track record of notable projects, including a pilot project in Cambodia that energized 140 households in just two months, demonstrating the scalability of its solar mesh solutions (source: seforall.org). In Nigeria, the company has partnerships that electrified communities such as Abababubu and Igbobini, expanding a project from 35 to over 1,000 households using its mesh technologies (source: okrasolar.com). By 2023, Okra Solar had already reached over 1,500 households, aiming to serve 2 million people by 2025, including around 3,000 devices serving 15,000 people in Haiti, Nigeria, and Cambodia (source: autodesk.com). Key clients include First Electric in Nigeria, which praised the socioeconomic impact of Okra Solar's solutions in rural areas (source: okrasolar.com).
Recent Developments
In April 2023, Okra Solar received the Autodesk Excellence in Design and Manufacturing Award for its technological innovations in Haiti, Cambodia, Nigeria, and the Philippines (source: autodesk.org). The company is focused on raising funds and expanding its operations, with plans to integrate 1oT to automatically manage connectivity as the number of devices grows to tens of thousands (source: 1ot.com). While there is no information on significant acquisitions or mergers, investment from King Philanthropies continues to support pilots in Nigeria, as the company aims for 10,000 connections within 12 months from mid-2023 (source: kingphilanthropies.org).
Working There
Okra Solar hires in various areas, including engineering, product management, and design, focusing on roles that support the deployment of its solutions in regions such as Nigeria, Haiti, Cambodia, and the Philippines (source: okrasolar.com). The company culture is centered around mission-driven innovation, with a small, agile team dedicated to eradicating energy poverty through automation and collaborative partnerships (source: okrasolar.com). Although there are no specific benefits publicly documented, the company is praised for its responsiveness and problem-solving capabilities, as highlighted by its clients (source: okrasolar.com).
Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
Job Description
At Okra Solar, we're on a mission to bring Power to the People by unlocking opportunities through energy access for everyone in the world.
Over 650 million people still live without electricity. At a time where technology such as mobile devices, productive agritech and AI are becoming more accessible than ever, we believe that access to energy is the first step toward opportunity and growth.
That's why we build our Mesh Grid technology that energizes off-grid households at a fraction of the cost of the other solutions. We build the hardware and software, that we sell to local energy companies who deploy our tech to deliver affordable, reliable electricity as a service last-mile communities.
In order to execute on the mission to 100% energy access for all - we are looking for an experienced and hands-on test engineer to work alongside our team in China and ensure we can scale several hardware electronics products from 10k to 100k to 1M production volumes in the coming couple years!
If you're excited about using technology to create tangible impact and want to help shape the future of energy access, you could be the right person to join us.
Responsibilities
- Getting functional testing ready for mass production
- Run failure analysis and continuous run improvement
- New feature testing
- New product/prototype testing
- Writing test plans for self, employees and for CM/3rd party
- Building the hardware/software for those test plans, including test jigs
- Automating those test plans
- Manually performing those test plans
- Outsourcing testing to 3rd parties, communicating requirements and interpreting results
Required Skills
We are looking for someone who has skills in some, if not all of these areas:
- PCB design
- Firmware: hardware communication protocols (UART, CAN, Modbus, RS-485, APIs, etc...), linux experience (flashing firmware, command line tools), familiar with C++/C
- Software: Strong python skills and bash for - test automation, scripts, data-collection, versioning/ CI&CD
- Test Frameworks for Hardware: end-to-end testing including hardware initialization, calibration sequences, reporting, retry logic
- Debugging skills
- Assembly skills
- High productivity: can work autonomously and think critically with high output
- Ability to prioritise own tasks and communicate progress with team
- Habit of documentation and reporting
Nice-to-Have
- Having relationships with suppliers (inverters, panels, etc..), being involved in testing/QA processes
- Experience with functional tests and understanding how this works on the supplier side
- Experience with manufacturing processes
- Experience in an international startup environment or multi-national company.
- Degree in Engineering or equivalent, however we put more value on your real-world experience
Benefits At Okra
🕒 Flexible Location & Hours
We're an output-focused organisation, which means that for the most part, you can choose where and when you work as long as your team has been communicated to and is on board with it. Most commonly, we ask everyone to be in the office at least 2 to 3 days a week to foster connections.
📈 Professional Growth
With mentorship from our investors (At One Ventures, Schneider Electric) and a range of experienced leaders and change-makers in our network, you get the opportunity to take on leadership responsibilities.
🛡️ We've Got You Covered
Cover for work travel, health insurance, sick leave, and equipment.
🌴 Unlimited Paid Time Off
We burn bright, not out - we offer unlimited paid time off so you can rest, recharge, support your loved ones, and bring your best self to work.
🌈 Dynamic & Diverse Workplace
You'll work in a fast-paced startup environment with multinational staff - expect to learn a lot while finding creative solutions to complex problems, all while enjoying a great office vibe.
🍼 Flexible Parental Leave
At Okra, we support parents with fully paid, flexible leave: +60 days in Portugal, 120 in Nigeria, up to 178 in China. Take it your way - before or after birth, in blocks or part-time. Your career won't stall; we make sure family and growth go hand in hand.
Apply now
Job expired?Please let Okra Solar know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
Apply now
Job expired?Please let Okra Solar know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
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About the role
March 18, 2026
Full time
Company
- Shenzhen, China
Experienced
UTC+08:00