ESS, Sales Application Engineer

SK battery America•Troy, MI

About The Position

SKon, a leading battery manufacturer and member of SK Group, is seeking an experienced Sales Applications Engineer for its Energy Storage team. This role serves as a technical expert in client engagements, providing technical sales and contracting support for DC Block products, cell technologies, EMS, and PCS technologies. The engineer will also support vendor RFPs for PCS & EMS technologies, acting as a liaison between the company, customers, and vendors to ensure technical excellence from pre-sales to contract execution. Key responsibilities include delivering hands-on technical sales support, optimizing system designs for profitability and risk reduction, and leading technical contract negotiations to support the sales team.

Requirements

A bachelor's or master's degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical, or computer science) or a related field.
A minimum of 5 years in a technical and engineering capacity.
At least 3 years in a technical or engineering position within the BESS industry, focusing on utility-scale projects or with direct experience in energy storage system design and project management.
Strong knowledge of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including how the cells, batteries, and modules are designed and integrated.
Skilled in designing entire systems, such as Power Conversion Systems, medium voltage transformers, substations, and Gen-Tie connections.
Well-versed in power electronics and have hands-on experience with SCADA systems.
Familiar with requirements and compliance processes for major markets like ISO-NE, NYPA, ERCOT, and CAISO.
Familiarity with safety standards including NFPA 855, NFPA 68/69, UL 9540, UL 9540A, and electrical safety standards such as NEC, IFC/IBC.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Demonstrated leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills, with an ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with plant system standards such as IEEE2800 and IEEEP2800302 is a plus.
Data analysis software knowledge is a plus (Power BI, and others).
Professional Engineer (PE) license is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide proactive, hands-on technical support to commercial and sales teams by addressing complex customer inquiries, delivering tailored technical solutions, and participating directly in client meetings and presentations to ensure alignment with client requirements and drive successful deal closers.
Develop, refine, and implement comprehensive cost models and automated toolsets that streamline and accelerate the sales process, enhance pricing accuracy, and support strategic decision-making for SKon's products and solutions.
Create, update, and continuously improve technical presentations and collateral to clearly communicate the unique value propositions and technical differentiators of SKon's battery cells, modules, DC Block, PCS, and EMS; ensure these materials effectively position SKon as a leader in innovation and technology in the energy storage market.
Define the optimal system design and bill of materials including SK battery technology, PCS and EMS and MV Transformer package.
Generate high-value documentation including single line diagrams (SLDs), preliminary site layouts, performance guarantee and availability metrics, and detailed scope of work documents.
Conduct value engineering through cost reduction efforts with vendors and system optimization sizing analysis.
Provide comprehensive RFP responses to integrators, IPPs, developers and/or utilities.
Take ownership of and lead negotiations for all system delivery technical contractual exhibits, including but not limited to commissioning, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT). Ensure comprehensive scope coverage, define clear performance, and capacity guarantee mechanisms and implement robust risk mitigation strategies. Collaborate closely with internal engineering, project management, and legal teams to align contract terms with project requirements and industry best practices.
Manage and negotiate technical contractual exhibits for Long-Term Service Agreements (LTSA), such as those covering Capacity Guarantees, Round Trip Efficiency, and Availability Guarantees. Ensure that all technical obligations are clearly defined, risks are thoroughly assessed and mitigated, and that contractual terms support both client satisfaction and SKon's operational objectives. Facilitate cross-functional coordination to address ongoing performance monitoring and compliance.
Maintain, oversee, and negotiate product technical specification exhibits in close collaboration with SKon's Korea engineering team. Ensure that all specifications accurately reflect the latest product capabilities and compliance requirements and proactively address any technical discrepancies or client-specific needs. Foster strong communication between U.S. and Korea engineering teams to support seamless integration and timely resolution of technical issues.