What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales Application Engineer, BESS position at A123 Systems LLC?
A123 Systems, LLC is a leading developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries and battery systems for the transportation and commercial markets.
Position Overview
A123 Systems LLC is seeking a highly motivated and customer-focused Senior Sales Application Engineer with deep technical knowledge in lithium-Ion battery systems. This role is the primary resource for the sales and customer engagement department and bridges the gap between customer product as well as integration requirements and A123 technology and system roadmap.
The ideal candidate will bring both strong sales acumen and battery technology expertise to support business growth in the EV, grid energy storage, industrial, and commercial markets.
This role is intended to be filled by a customer centric Sales Engineer with hands on mentality to support technical onsite customer needs.
Responsibilities
• Act as the primary technical interface to customers during the sales and new business acquisition process.
• Understand customer applications and requirements; translate and size them into tailored lithium battery solutions.
• Provide technical support during pre-sales, including system architecture recommendations, performance modeling, and specification alignment.
• Develop and deliver compelling technical presentations, proposals, and product demonstrations.
• Lead technical discussions and support commercial activities, including bid preparation, pricing and contract negotiations.
• Collaborate with R&D, product management, and manufacturing teams to support custom product development and help resolve customer application integration challenges.
• Collect market and customer requirements and evaluate product compliance.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, competitive products, and battery regulations.
• Support post-sales activities by working closely with field service and quality teams to resolve customer issues.
• Travel to customer sites, trade shows, technical workshops, etc.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of experience in a customer-facing technical sales or application engineering role, preferably in the lithium battery or energy storage sector.
• Deep understanding of lithium-ion battery chemistries, cell design, BMS, pack integration, and safety standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with proven ability to influence and manage relationships at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to handle complex technical inquiries.
• Fluent in English; additional language skills e.g., Mandarin are a plus.
• Domestic & international travel expected.