How to apply for Senior Applications Engineer, Solar Inverters and Battery Storage

About SMA America

SMA America is the U.S. subsidiary of SMA Solar Technology AG, which has developed solar inverter technology since 1981. The company offers inverter solutions for every system size, from residential rooftops to large utility plants, and holds more than 1,500 patents with a presence in over 190 countries. It is headquartered in Rocklin, California, and has supported U.S. homes, businesses, and utilities for more than two decades.

About the role

This is a power electronics and applications engineering role focused on solar inverters and battery storage. It is not a software engineering position. The person in this role supports the technical application of SMA's inverter and storage products, likely working with customers, sales, and engineering teams. The role is remote and must be based in the Eastern or Central time zone.

A typical day

A typical day may involve answering technical questions from customers or sales teams about inverter and battery storage applications. You might review system designs, troubleshoot product issues, or work with internal engineering teams on product specifications. The role is remote, so much of the work happens over calls, email, and shared documents. Ask the hiring manager about travel expectations and how the team coordinates across time zones.

Who SMA America is looking for

• Has hands-on power electronics experience, especially with solar inverters, battery storage systems, or related power conversion equipment.
• Can explain technical product details to customers, installers, and internal teams in clear terms.
• Understands how inverters and battery storage integrate into residential, commercial, and utility-scale systems.
• Works independently in a remote setting and can manage customer-facing technical questions without constant supervision.
• Is based in the Eastern or Central time zone, as required by the job location.

Tips for this application

• State clearly in your resume summary and cover letter that you have power electronics or applications engineering experience, not software engineering experience.
• List specific inverter or battery storage products, projects, or systems you have worked with, including voltage classes, power ratings, or use cases if possible.
• Confirm in your application that you live in the Eastern or Central time zone, since the role is remote but time-zone restricted.
• Reference SMA's product range across residential, commercial, and utility-scale systems to show you understand the breadth of the role.
• Avoid using software engineering terms like full-stack, API development, or cloud architecture as your main selling points.

What to cover in your cover letter

Explain your direct experience with solar inverters or battery storage systems and what equipment you have worked on. Describe a time you solved a technical application problem for a customer or internal team. Show that you understand SMA's position as a manufacturer with products at every system size. Confirm your time zone and your ability to work remotely as an applications engineer.

Research before applying

• Review SMA America's product lines for solar inverters and battery storage, including model names and system sizes.
• Read about SMA Solar Technology AG's history since 1981 and its position in the global inverter market.
• Look up SMA America's headquarters in Rocklin, California, and its role as the U.S. subsidiary.
• Check recent news or announcements about SMA America's inverter and battery storage products in the U.S. market.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through a technical problem you solved involving a solar inverter or battery storage system.
• How do you explain inverter or battery storage specifications to a customer who is not an engineer?
• What is your experience with different system sizes, such as residential, commercial, and utility-scale?
• How do you handle a customer who reports a product issue that turns out to be an installation or configuration problem?
• Why do you want to work for an inverter manufacturer like SMA rather than a solar developer, installer, or software company?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying as a software engineer or emphasizing software skills over power electronics experience.
• Ignoring the time zone requirement and applying from outside the Eastern or Central time zone.
• Sending a generic cover letter that does not mention inverters, battery storage, or SMA's product range.