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The SMA Trainee Program
Your journey begins now

Your journey begins today
SMA Trainee Program
As an innovative energy transition company, we have been developing solutions for a future-proof and climate-friendly energy supply for more than 40 years. If you want to shape the world of tomorrow and use your energy to both drive and shape change, then start your journey at SMA now.
With our trainee program, you will spend time in different parts of the company, giving you fascinating insight into various topics and areas of responsibility. In the process, you will find out where you can best utilize your individual strengths and pursue your interests in order to launch your career with us.
With curiosity, initiative, the ability to work in a team and a tolerant mindset in your armory, you will be ideally equipped to apply to start your journey at our company.

At a glance
The application portal will be open from March 13 to April 14, 2023. This year’s assessment days are May 9 and 10.
Discover your possibilities
What we offer you
Mentors from top management
Deep dives into fascinating parts of the company
Assignment abroad for up to 4 month
Start in October 2023
Accelerated career development
Personalized journey as a trainee
Meaningful work with future prospects
Company Benefits

Broaden your horizons
Gain a wider perspective with us
Get to know different departments – Understand relationships – Build up a network
Locations and options
Your itinerary

Four steps to becoming an SMA trainee
Our online selection process
1. Application
Simply upload your résumé and certificates and answer a few questions. You do not need a cover letter. The closing date for applications is April 14, 2023.
2. Diagnostics
Online questionnaires will help us get to know you better. Simply click the link and work through them in less than an hour anytime and anywhere.
3. Assessment
First, we will get to know one another personally at a networking event on May 9. On the following day, there will be a full-day in-person assessment center at SMA in Kassel.
4. Feedback
A few days later, we will contact you with feedback on the success of your application. Your trainee program will start between September and November 2022.
Benefit from your company-wide network!
As a trainee, you will make contacts throughout the organization on your trip and work closely together with the management on strategic topics for SMA.

First-hand account
Meet Maureen
Maureen Ege, Specialist, Global Learning & People Development, former SMA trainee, started in 2019
Where your journey begins
Any further questions?
Why SMA?
We have always been trailblazers on the path to a climate-neutral, affordable and sustainable energy supply with renewable energies. Innovations from SMA have shaped the success of the energy transition for 40 years. And we want to continue in exactly the same way. We want to do so with colleagues who overcome challenges together, explore uncharted territory and seize opportunities. Be part of it.
In which language should I submit my application documents?
You may upload your résumé and certificates in German or in English.
I have not completed my studies yet. Can I still apply for a trainee position?
Of course. You do not need to have completed your studies when you apply. In this case, please add a current transcript of records to your application to document the current status of your studies. Your studies should be completed before starting your journey as a trainee at SMA.
I am not living in Germany at the moment. Is that a problem?
No. We are very pleased to receive international applications. However, a permit to work in Germany and regular attendance at the site in Kassel are prerequisites for participating in the trainee program.
I can’t be there on the assessment days. What can I do?
Only those who take part in the assessment will be considered for the trainee program. However, you will find lots of exciting roles for career entrants in our careers portal. Assessment: First, we will get to know one another personally at a networking event on May 9. On the following day, there will be a full-day assessment center. The assessment can take place online or in person.
I am interested in the finance path as well as the commercial-technical one. Can I apply for both?
Yes, you can apply for both paths, should both fit your profile. Please submit your documents for both job postings in that case. This is necessary to consider your application.
Which departments are hiring trainees this year?
The specialist departments that are hiring in the SMA trainee program change from year to year. For 2023, we are looking for trainees for the Business Segment C&I Solutions, Business Segment Large Scale & Project Solutions, Finance & CREM, Global Operations and Platform Development.
Which target group is the SMA Trainee Program aimed at?
The SMA Trainee Program is aimed at graduates with a university degree and up to three years of professional experience. Practical experience in a corporate context from internships or working student activities as well as experience abroad are very interesting for SMA and increase the chances of success in the application. Very good knowledge of the German and English languages is required.
I live quite far away from Kassel. Does SMA provide support when it comes to accommodation for May 9/10?
SMA will make a reservation for a number of hotel rooms upfront that we will provide to participants from the AC who live further away. Also, we will refund the travel costs by train or car.
The Large Scale & Project Solutionsbusiness segment is responsible for global projects in the multi-megawatt range, especially for large-scale PV power plants and battery, hybrid and hydrogen applications. On your journey as a trainee, you will gain insight into different areas of the value chain – from the management of our portfolio (hardware, software and services) and formulation of marketing strategies through to the technological development of innovative products and services. You will also be introduced to international project business and help ensure a high degree of customer-centricity in the optimization of existing processes and the development of new ones.
The C&I Solutions Business Segment develops and is responsible for integrated energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers. During your traineeship, you will work in a range of areas such as Finance, which creates transparency across all financial aspects in the segment and is responsible for financial planning. Discover and help shape our value-added processes, which are based on customer requirements. You will help define our product portfolio, formulate marketing strategies and provide support in our development projects for adapting or realizing the portfolio. You will work closely alongside colleagues from Development, Sales, Operations and Service and get to know our global markets at the subsidiaries.
As a trainee in Global Operations, you will be familiarized with our operations across the entire value chain from the supplier to the customer – so from the purchasing of materials and services through to the manufacture of products and their shipment via globally connected, smart and powerful supply chains. You will play a part in areas such as supply chain management, global excellence and the global footprint. Further exciting challenges await you during your traineeship when you get involved in a unique project managed by our Plant Germany department to build, plan and kit out our new production building. You will also have the opportunity to gain exciting insight into the worlds of automation and digitalization.
Platform Development: Our Platform Development area develops products and solutions for future regenerative energy supply systems. Using state-of-the-art hardware and software development methods, we create smart digital energy systems that are world leaders and can be deployed in myriad applications. As a trainee, you will learn all about the product development process, explore a whole range of development-related aspects and contribute your process management or cost engineering ideas for our products. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the purchasing of the components we use, support the evolution of our digitalization road map and get involved in optimizing our development processes.
Finance & CREM comprises the Controlling, Accounting, Tax, Competence Center Finance and Corporate Real Estate Management departments and is not only located at our headquarters in Niestetal, Germany, but also distributed across our global structures in our companies abroad in the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. Learn all about the payment flows behind our business transactions and discover how we weigh up risks and make business decisions. On your journey as a trainee, you will learn all about day-to-day business both at our headquarters and at our companies outside Germany and also play an active role in implementing projects. As a trainee, you will have the opportunity to do a stint in the business segments, where you will become directly involved in operations in a Finance & Enablement unit.
Start your application today.
Choose your intended career path

Commercial-technical
Are you enthusiastic about the latest technology, smart solutions and business processes? Do you want to help shape our future products, systems and customer projects? If so, choose the commercial-technical career path as your focus today.

Finance
Are you interested in economics and finance? Do you want to help shape SMA’s position in the marketplace? Is your work based on a strategic focus for financial topics? If so, choose the finance career path as your focus today.