Program Associate – Energy Access and Livelihoods (Engineering & Design)

Job description

Lusaka, Zambia
Contract
Company Description

Customized Energy Solutions (CES), a privately-held company, is a leading service provider of market intelligence and operational support services to companies participating in the retail and wholesale electric and natural gas markets. Utilizing deep know-how developed since the inception of the deregulated energy markets, CES provides accurate & timely analysis on regulatory changes, market opportunities, and operational efficiencies for electricity and natural gas commodities. Join a rapidly growing company in an exciting and dynamic work environment.  As one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in the Philadelphia region, Customized Energy Solutions offers an opportunity for significant professional growth.

Customized Energy Solutions Ltd. has been recognized regionally and nationally for its impressive and sustained growth, including INC. 500 | 5000 and The Philadelphia Business Journal as a Top 100 Companies in Philadelphia, Hall of Fame for five or more consecutive years. It was ranked as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Our team of associates at CES is highly motivated, innovative, and passionate about providing excellent Services to our clients. We look for individuals interested in growing with our company, and working in an exciting, open and collegial work environment. Our main office is in Philadelphia, with satellite offices in various U.S. states, Canada, Japan,  India and Vietnam.

CES CAREs (Customized Applications for Rural Economies) and CES Foundation, initiatives of Customized Energy Solutions (CES) India, promote decentralized renewable energy (DRE) for inclusive rural growth. Operating across Meghalaya, Nagaland, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra, CES CAREs fosters rural innovation, micro-entrepreneurship, and women’s empowerment through its “3I Framework” — Innovate, Include, Integrate.

In Africa, CES advances DRE and productive use of energy (PUE) solutions to strengthen livelihoods and climate resilience. Working with partners such as ENGIE Energy Access, Caritas Zambia, NRECA International, and JACANA, CES supports solar irrigation, livelihood centers, and mini-grid optimization. Its efforts across Zambia and East Africa focus on local capacity building, sustainable technology deployment, and ecosystem development — translating global expertise into scalable, community-driven models that link clean energy access with agriculture, water, and MSME development.

Job Description

We are seeking a motivated and adaptable Candidate with a strong foundation in software development, systems integration, and applied problem-solving. The ideal candidate should be skilled in multiple programming languages, experienced in cloud-based deployment, and passionate about leveraging technology to drive innovation in software engineering, fintech, embedded systems, and AI-driven energy optimization. This role provides hands-on exposure to real-world projects across electronics, software, AI development, and power management systems—offering an opportunity to apply both technical and analytical skills in a dynamic, innovation-driven environment. The position supports both strategic and operational initiatives, with 60% of assignments supervised by the Executive Director (focusing on innovation and strategic projects) and 40% overseen by the Program Manager (focusing on technical implementation and project execution).

Key Responsibilities

Project Support: Assist in the development, implementation, and troubleshooting of ongoing electronics and software engineering projects.
Innovation & Optimization: Identify opportunities for improvement or new system development to enhance efficiency, power utilization, and overall performance.
Data Collection & Analysis: Gather and analyse data on energy consumption and power demand to support decision-making and AI model development.
AI Development: Contribute to the design, training, and integration of AI/ML models for predicting and optimizing energy and system performance.
Deployment & Maintenance: Support system deployment, testing, and maintenance to ensure operational reliability and scalability.
Procurement & Coordination: Prepare purchase orders for machinery, tools, and materials; assist with scheduling and coordination of technical field activities.
Stakeholder Communication: Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure project alignment and timely progress.
Reporting: Deliver technical reports, progress updates, and data insights to supervisors and project managers.
Proactive Support: Take initiative in managing assigned tasks and contributing to continuous project improvement.
Qualifications

Education:

A degree in Electronics Engineering, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

Technical Skills:

Proficiency in Java, Python, C, or C++.
Understanding of electronic systems, sensors, and circuit design.
Exposure to AI/ML tools, data analysis, and cloud-based deployment.
Familiarity with power systems or energy consumption modelling is an advantage.

Soft Skills:

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication abilities.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Ability to collaborate across teams and manage multiple priorities effectively.
Experience with scheduling or resource management tools is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with IoT and smart energy systems.
Knowledge of MATLAB, Simulink, or similar simulation tools.
Exposure to financial systems integration (e.g., MxExchange, MX.3) or data-driven fintech solutions.
Familiarity with project coordination and stakeholder management.
Additional Information

Customized Energy Solutions offers competitive salary commensurate with experience. Involves extensive travel—around 80%—to rural communities and field project sites throughout Zambia, which may occasionally require overnight stays

Customized Energy Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.