Quality Excellence & Continuous Improvement Manager
d.light
Company Overview
d.light
San Francisco, CA, United States
2007
Employee count is not publicly disclosed, and revenue figures for 2023 or later are not available; however, d.light has raised over $20 million in early venture capital and participated in multiple funding rounds, including a $30 million Series D (source: sfgate.com).
What They Do
d.light is a for-profit social enterprise and certified B Corporation that specializes in solar-powered solutions aimed at off-grid and underserved communities. The company focuses on providing affordable and durable solar lighting, home systems, inverters, and appliances, with a strong emphasis on human-centered design. Their products include solar home systems, portable solar lanterns, and PayGo financing models, which allow customers to pay for their energy solutions in manageable daily installments of 20-50 US cents (source: dlight.com). The technology is designed to last, featuring LiFePO4 batteries that can endure over 2000 cycles, and polycrystalline solar panels ranging from 9W to 40W, making them suitable for various applications in regions lacking reliable electricity (source: dlight.com). By targeting low-income families, small businesses, health centers, and schools, d.light aims to improve the quality of life for millions while promoting sustainable energy practices.
Projects & Track Record
Since its inception, d.light has successfully distributed over 25 million solar products across 62 countries, significantly impacting the lives of approximately 173 million people. Notable projects include installations at the Gora Primary Health Care Center in Plateau State, Nigeria, where their iMAX10 inverters have facilitated critical medical interventions during power outages. Additionally, health centers in Abia State have utilized d.light's technology for phototherapy treatments (source: techxlab.org). Current efforts are focused on scaling PayGo solar home systems in regions like Mt. Kenya's Kiharu area, where they provide essential lighting and educational support, as well as in urban settings like Nairobi for business lighting solutions (source: dlight.com). The company has established partnerships with local distributors and organizations such as Acumen to enhance its reach and effectiveness in delivering solar solutions to those in need.
Recent Developments
In recent years, d.light has gained recognition for its impactful solar solutions, highlighted in the Earthshot Prize video released on October 16, 2024, which showcased how their products have powered 175 million lives across Africa and helped offset 38 million tonnes of carbon emissions (source: youtube.com). The company has also celebrated the milestone of selling 25 million products, contributing to its ambitious goal of reaching 1 billion lives by 2030 (source: techxlab.org). While there have been no major contracts or acquisitions reported for 2023-2025, d.light continues to build on its legacy of innovation and social impact, having previously won the Global LEAP Award in 2016 for its energy-efficient off-grid appliances.
Working There
d.light offers a variety of roles that likely include positions in engineering, sales, customer support, and supply chain management, reflecting its diverse operational needs across global markets. The company recruits talent for its headquarters in San Francisco as well as for field offices in Kenya, India, and China, emphasizing community engagement by hiring local sales agents (source: dlight.com). The culture at d.light is centered around human-centered design and social impact, with a commitment to empowering local communities and ensuring product durability in extreme conditions. While specific employee benefits are not detailed, the company's innovative PayGo financing models suggest a focus on aligning employee interests with customer needs and sustainable practices (source: thecharlesbronfmanprize.org).
Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
Job Description
The role holder will drive quality improvement initiatives across d.light's Africa business by identifying, analyzing, and eliminating product and process-related issues that impact customer experience, reliability, and operational performance.
This role will lead deep-dive investigations into product failures, warranty returns, field defects, and customer complaints, working closely with Product Quality, Engineering, Service Operations, Manufacturing Partners, Suppliers, and Regional Teams to implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
The primary objective of the role is to improve product reliability, reduce return rates, enhance customer satisfaction, and establish a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making and structured problem-solving.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Quality Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Lead quality excellence initiatives across products, service operations, supply chain, and partner networks.
- Identify systemic quality issues and drive sustainable improvement actions.
- Establish and monitor quality improvement roadmaps.
- Drive continuous improvement projects using Lean, Six Sigma, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Promote best practices and lessons learned across regions and functions.
Product Failure Analysis & Root Cause Investigation
- Lead detailed investigations of product failures observed in the field.
- Analyze warranty returns, customer complaints, service center findings, and reliability data.
- Validate effectiveness of corrective and preventive actions.
- Perform deep-dive failure analysis to identify root causes and failure mechanisms.
- Coordinate technical reviews and corrective actions with Engineering, Product Management, Quality, Suppliers, and Manufacturing Partners.
Product Reliability Improvement
- Monitor product reliability performance across Africa markets.
- Identify recurring product issues and reliability risks.
- Support reliability validation and verification activities.
- Drive initiatives to improve durability, robustness, and overall product performance.
- Provide technical recommendations based on field learning and failure analysis.
Customer Experience Improvement
- Identify quality issues impacting customer satisfaction and product adoption.
- Work closely with Customer Experience, Service Operations, and Commercial teams to reduce customer pain points.
- Lead initiatives aimed at reducing repeat failures, service visits, and warranty claims.
- Drive improvements in customer satisfaction and overall product ownership experience.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as the focal point for quality improvement initiatives across Africa.
- Coordinate with:
- Product Management
- Product Quality Teams
- Engineering
- Service Operations
- Supply Chain
- Suppliers
- Contract Manufacturers
- Ensure timely implementation and closure of improvement actions.
Data Analytics & Performance Management
- Develop and maintain quality dashboards and performance reports.
- Analyze trends related to:
- Product Returns
- Warranty Claims
- Customer Complaints
- Service Center Defects
- Repeat Failures
- Product Reliability
- Present actionable insights and recommendations to leadership teams.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Electronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline.
- A Master's Degree is an added advantage.
Experience
-
5 years of experience in:
- Quality Engineering
- Reliability Engineering
- Product Quality
- Customer Quality
- Continuous Improvement
- Field Quality
- Experience in Consumer Electronics, Solar Products, Energy Storage Systems, Inverters, Batteries, Home Appliances, Telecommunications Equipment, or related industries.
Technical Competencies
- Strong understanding of:
- Lithium-ion and LFP Battery Technologies
- Battery Management Systems (BMS)
- Solar Home Systems
- Inverters and Power Electronics
- PCB Assemblies (PCBA)
- Consumer Electronics Products
- Product Reliability Engineering
- Failure Analysis Techniques
- Customer Quality Management
Quality Tools
- 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone Analysis, FMEA, Fault Tree Analysis, Pareto Analysis, Six Sigma, CAPA and Statistical Analysis
Benefits
What We Offer
- Competitive Remuneration
- Medical Cover
- Pension
Apply now
Job expired?Please let d.light know you found this job on Rejobs. It helps us grow and get more people working in renewable energy.
Apply now
Job expired?Please let d.light know you found this job on Rejobs. It helps us grow and get more people working in renewable energy.
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About the role
June 11, 2026
Full time
Company
- Nairobi, Kenya
>5 years
UTC+03:00
