Application Guide

How to Apply for (Senior) Operations Engineer - Charging Network (f/m/x)

at IONITY

About IONITY

IONITY is Europe's largest high-power charging (HPC) network, founded by leading automotive manufacturers like BMW, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen. With thousands of charging points across 24 countries, IONITY is the backbone of long-distance EV travel in Europe. Working here means directly contributing to the transition to sustainable mobility and shaping the future of EV infrastructure.

About This Role

As a (Senior) Operations Engineer, you'll be the technical backbone ensuring high availability of IONITY's HPC network. You'll diagnose and resolve issues across chargers, backend systems, and communication protocols, while steering external maintenance partners and enhancing monitoring tools. This hands-on role offers real scope to shape operations at scale as the network expands.

A Day in the Life

You might start by reviewing overnight alerts from the monitoring system, then dive into diagnosing a charger communication issue in one country while coordinating with a local maintenance partner. Later, you'd analyze recurring faults to implement a permanent fix and update documentation, all while collaborating with backend engineers to enhance monitoring dashboards.

Who IONITY Is Looking For

  • Proven experience in technical operations, preferably in EV charging, energy, or telecommunications, with a strong understanding of high-power charging systems and protocols (e.g., OCPP, ISO 15118).
  • Skilled in diagnosing complex issues across hardware, software, and network layers, with proficiency in monitoring tools (e.g., Grafana, Prometheus) and backend systems.
  • Experience managing external partners and driving process improvements, with a mindset for automation and knowledge sharing.
  • Fluent in English; German is a plus, and comfortable working remotely across European time zones.

Tips for Applying to IONITY

  1. 1

    Highlight specific experience with high-power charging (HPC) or similar infrastructure, mentioning protocols like OCPP and ISO 15118 in your resume.

  2. 2

    Quantify achievements in network availability, troubleshooting, or process optimization (e.g., 'reduced downtime by 20%').

  3. 3

    Emphasize any experience coordinating with external maintenance partners or vendors, as this is a key responsibility.

  4. 4

    Show familiarity with IONITY's network scale (24 countries, thousands of chargers) and tailor your examples to a pan-European context.

  5. 5

    Demonstrate proactive problem-solving by including examples of how you've improved monitoring or prevented recurring issues.

What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your hands-on technical expertise in diagnosing and resolving issues across chargers, backend, and communication systems.', "Experience steering external partners and ensuring efficient operations processes, aligning with IONITY's need for process improvement.", 'A track record of enhancing monitoring and tooling to provide full visibility into network health.', "Passion for sustainable mobility and excitement about contributing to Europe's largest HPC network at a scaling stage."]

Generate Cover Letter →

Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Study IONITY's network: number of charging points, countries covered, and recent expansion announcements to understand scale and challenges.
  • Understand the technical aspects of HPC charging, including common failure points and relevant protocols (OCPP, ISO 15118).
  • Research IONITY's partners and competitors (e.g., Tesla Supercharger, Fastned) to grasp the competitive landscape and operational benchmarks.
  • Look into IONITY's company culture and recent news, such as their evolution into a broader mobility and energy platform.

Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

  1. 1 Technical troubleshooting: Walk us through a complex issue you resolved in a charging network, covering hardware, software, and communication layers.
  2. 2 Protocol knowledge: How would you diagnose an OCPP communication failure between a charger and the backend?
  3. 3 Partner management: Describe a time you managed an external maintenance partner to improve SLAs or resolve recurring issues.
  4. 4 Process improvement: What steps would you take to streamline operations as IONITY's network grows rapidly?
  5. 5 Monitoring and tooling: How would you design a monitoring system to ensure high availability across thousands of chargers in 24 countries?
Practice Interview Questions →

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Being too generic: Avoid vague statements about 'operations experience' without linking to EV charging or high-power infrastructure specifics.
  • Ignoring the pan-European aspect: Failing to address the complexity of managing a network across 24 countries with diverse regulations and partners.
  • Overlooking the hands-on nature: Emphasizing only strategic or managerial experience without demonstrating technical troubleshooting skills.

Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

  1. 1

    Application Review

    1-2 weeks

  2. 2

    Initial Screening

    Phone call or written assessment

  3. 3

    Interviews

    1-2 rounds, usually virtual

  4. ✓

    Offer

    Congratulations!