Field Applications Engineer - Energy Access Innovations

The Field Applications Engineer is the technical face of the company in the field and the strategic owner of what a good install looks like. This role exists to lower warranty cost and raise install quality by making sure installers, distributors, and EPC partners actually understand how our ESS products work, how to install them correctly the first time, and how to troubleshoot them when something goes wrong.

The FAE builds the training, owns the ‘approved install’ standard, takes the hardest escalations, walks the sites, writes the fix-it guide, and feeds every lesson back into product, engineering, training, and support so we stop paying for the same mistake twice. This is a strategic technical role, not a day-to-day ticket role.

The FAE spends time with installers, on job sites , in design reviews, and in the lab reproducing issues. They work under the Director of Field Operations and own the technical execution of the department's priorities: warranty reduction, installer certification, approved install standards, applications engineering, and advanced technical support.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Installer and partner technical enablement Build and deliver technical training content — product deep-dives, install walkthroughs, commissioning guides, troubleshooting trees. Lead certification sessions for new installers and recertification for existing ones. Create install bulletins, best-practice guides, and short-form videos that explain the ‘why’ behind the install, not just the steps.

Own the technical content library — keep it current as firmware, hardware revisions, and field learnings evolve. Pre-install design review and approved install standards Review system designs from installers and EPCs before the install goes in — catch problems on paper, not after commissioning. Define and maintain the ‘approved install’ standard — what good looks like for each product line.

Flag designs that are out of spec and partner with Sales and the installer to correct them. Advanced field escalations Take Tier 3 escalations from Technical Support — the ones front-line and Tier 2 can't close. Walk installers and techs through complex troubleshooting (parallel systems, grid-interactive edge cases, communication / BMS faults, firmware mismatches).

Travel to site when the issue warrants it; document what you find, what you did, and what the root cause looked like. Root cause analysis and feedback to engineering Partner with the Field Reliability Analyst and Engineering on RCA for field failures — bring the field perspective, not just the lab perspective. Reproduce field issues when possible; document reproduction steps so Engineering can fix them.

Track recurring issues and push for permanent fixes (firmware updates, hardware revisions, install procedure changes). Installer scorecard support Review installer scorecard data with the Director — add technical context to the numbers (is this installer failing because of training gaps, product gaps, or just not caring).

Lead the coaching conversation with installers on the ‘Developing’ and ‘Watch’ list — turn problem installers into good ones when possible. Recommend decertification when coaching is not working. Advanced field escalations Take Tier 3 escalations from Technical Support — the ones front-line and Tier 2 can't close. Walk installers and techs through complex troubleshooting (parallel systems, grid-interactive edge cases, communication / BMS faults, firmware mismatches).

Travel to site when the issue warrants it; document what you find, what you did, and what the root cause looked like. Product feedback loop Be the voice of the installer and the field tech back to Product and Engineering — what is hard to install, what is confusing, what breaks. Participate in PRD and design reviews for new products and feature changes; call out field-realism issues before the product ships.

Pilot new products in the field with trusted installers; capture feedback before general release.

QUALIFICATIONS

5+ years hands-on experience with residential or C&I solar, battery storage, or power electronics — installing, commissioning, troubleshooting, or supporting at a manufacturer or integrator. Deep comfort with inverters, batteries, BMS systems, DC coupling, AC coupling, and grid-interactive systems. You can read a schematic and you have been on a roof or in a battery room.

NEC familiarity (Articles 690, 705, 706) — enough to call out a non-compliant design. Experience running training sessions or writing technical documentation that non-engineers actually use . Clear written and verbal communication — you can explain a complex fault to an installer without talking down to them, and write it up so the next person does not have to call us.

Willingness to travel 20–40% depending on quarter (ramps up around new product launches and field campaigns). Preferred Background: Direct hands-on experience with residential or C&I ESS: hybrid inverters, LFP battery systems, HV battery stacks, BMS, DC-DC converters, grid-interactive controls. NABCEP certification (PV Installation Professional or Associate), or equivalent demonstrated expertise.

Working knowledge of UL safety and performance standards relevant to ESS and inverters (enough to coordinate with Certification; not expected to sign off). Experience doing root cause analysis in a manufacturing or field support context (8D, 5-Why, fishbone). Familiarity with monitoring portals, firmware update workflows, and fault-code trending for solar + storage systems.

Electrical license or Master Electrician credential. Prior role as a lead installer or field service technician at a large installer or EPC. Spanish language fluency. Prior formal technical training or curriculum development experience. Physical Requirements Install/Maintenance: This position may require the ability to perform tasks that involve standing, walking, lifting 50+ lbs , bending, stooping, computer work, working with live electricity, climbing on roofs, navigating heights, and other physical activities.

Candidates should be able to meet these physical demands with or without reasonable accommodations. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Energy Access Innovations and its family of companies is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.