Application Engineer

Required Travel: Frequent travel availability

Location: Milano, IT, 20142

ENERGY THAT CHANGES: Innovative and sustainable key technologies are prerequisites for renewable energy supply. More than 3,000 employees from 20 countries work to ensure that SMA è attivamente impegnata a promuovere la produzione e lo sviluppo della tecnologia dei sistemi fotovoltaici in tutto il mondo. Vuoi far parte della definizione dell'approvvigionamento energetico del futuro? Benvenuto in SMA. La tua energia può prosperare con noi.

REPORTING TO: SENIOR APPLICATION ENGINEER & PJM ITALY

POSITION TYPE: PERMANENT

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: The Application Engineer is responsible for providing advanced technical support, application expertise, and strategic consulting to customers across the design and optimization of solar, storage, and integrated energy solutions. The role ensures the effective integration and application of SMA products and solutions, working closely with customers and the Sales team to address technical requirements, optimizing system design, and support successful project execution. The position also serves as a key technical reference for the SMA Sales organization, contributing to the development and delivery of technical and product training programs for both internal teams and customers.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide high-level technical support and engineering consulting to customers, resolving complex technical issues and optimizing system performance.
• Collaborate with the Sales team on PV and energy storage projects on the utility-scale segments, providing in-depth technical analysis and supporting solution design.
• Attending customer meetings together with the sales team, acting as the direct interface with the customer's various departments.
• Lead technical discussions and provide engineering support for utility-scale projects, including plant design optimization, integration with medium-voltage (MV) systems, and compliance with grid connection requirements (Terna, local DSOs, and CEI 0-16/0-21 standards).
• Coordinate with Product Managers and relevant Italian regulatory authorities (ARERA, Terna, GSE) to ensure compliance with product certification and regulatory requirements, contributing to successful market launches.
• Contribute technical content and expertise to sales and marketing initiatives (product launches, trade shows, events), including technical presentations and speaking engagements.
• Design, develop, and deliver advanced technical training programs and workshops for customers and employees, both at SMA facilities and on customer sites.
• Develop training materials aligned with market requirements, emerging technical trends, and engineering best practices.
• Contribute to the planning of training content and schedules to support the continuous technical development of Distribution Partners and internal teams.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Minimum 3 years of experience in pre-sales, application engineering, or an equivalent role within the electrical engineering field, with proven expertise in technical problem-solving and solution design.

REQUIRED EDUCATION: Degree/master’s degree in engineering or a related field, with preferred previous professional experience in electrical engineering.

OTHER COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• In-depth knowledge of the Italian electrical energy market, photovoltaic systems, energy storage systems, EV charging infrastructure, and related monitoring and control systems.
• Proven experience in the configuration and simulation of PV and energy storage systems using industry-standard software such as PV*Sol, PVsyst, Sunny Design, or similar tools.
• Excellent knowledge of the MS Office suite, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
• Familiarity with project planning and management tools, including Gantt charts and similar project scheduling tools.
• Strong technical expertise, a solution-oriented mindset, and excellent customer-facing communication skills, with the ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage a complex technical workload, handling multiple priorities in parallel.
• Flexibility and ability to effectively switch between different engineering and technical support activities.

EXTENT OF RESPONSIBILITY: Willingness to travel for customer visits, training, and technical support.

LANGUAGES: Native Italian speaker with excellent written and spoken English (international context exposure and headquarter based in Germany).

BENEFIT: The remuneration package includes: Annual performance bonus according to company incentive scheme Supplementary pension plan, subject to applicable eligibility criteria.

Remuneration is determined based on: Relevant professional experience Technical and functional skills (including multi-country experience) Scope and complexity of the role.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES: We are committed to equal opportunities. Applications will be assessed based on skills, qualifications and experience. Ready for your next career move? SMA is committed to equal opportunity and diversity – regardless of gender, age, origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.