At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.
This position reports to:
Chapter Lead
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Your role and responsibilities
In this role, you will collaborate closely with Global Application Specialists and Technology Advisors, focusing on areas aligned with your expertise and strengths. Supported by the team’s Product Owner, you will work autonomously in an agile environment while contributing to Smart Power’s future growth and innovation.
Join ABB Smart Power’s Emerging Technologies team and help shape the future instead of following trends. We identify megatrends, disruptive technologies, and new market opportunities, turning them into innovation strategies that keep ABB Smart Power ahead of the curve. We are looking for an experienced senior electrical or energy R&D engineer with an out-of-the-box mindset to join the Emerging Technologies, Applications and Segments team within Innovation and Common Modules.
The work model for the role is: #hybrid, #Li-hybrid
You will be mainly accountable for:
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Build and maintain relationships across the innovation ecosystem, including universities, research centers, startups, and incubators, to identify new ideas and breakthrough technologies. Active engagement with academia is essential.
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Support innovation strategies and technology roadmaps through technical feasibility assessments and recommendations aligned with 3–5-year technology trends.
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Develop reference architectures and technical frameworks for emerging applications, translating technology trends into actionable system concepts.
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Design and facilitate technical workshops with internal teams, academic partners, and external collaborators to validate emerging technologies and innovation concepts.
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Conduct feasibility studies and define proof-of-concepts, assessing technology maturity, scalability, and applicability to Smart Power’s portfolio while balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
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Perform competitive technology benchmarking and gap analysis to identify opportunities and strengthen Smart Power’s capabilities.
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Act as a gate assessor for Corporate Research Center (CRC) projects, evaluating technical progress, strategic alignment, and business relevance.
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Contribute to technical documentation and innovation briefs, translating complex R&D findings into clear recommendations for stakeholders and leadership.
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Navigate matrix organizations effectively, influencing cross-functional teams and stakeholders across ABB without direct authority.
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Collaborate closely with R&D Engineers, Technology Advisors, and Application Engineers in a highly collaborative team environment.
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Support scouting of global megatrends and emerging technologies by analysing scientific publications, patents, and academic research to identify breakthrough innovations and their potential impact on Smart Power’s future portfolio.
Qualifications for the role
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You are highly skilled in industrial R&D environments and enjoy working at the intersection of emerging technologies, energy transition, and industrial decarbonization.
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You have 5+ years of experience in industrial R&D, ideally within global and cross-functional organizations.
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You possess strong knowledge of energy transition challenges, industrial decarbonization trends, and related market dynamics.
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You are innovative around cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, and building constructive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
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You thrive in agile, dynamic environments and enjoy working within multidisciplinary international teams.
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You are proficient in drawing and reading electrical schematics, with hands-on experience using CAD-based tools (e.g., AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN), and are able to translate complex system architectures into clear technical documentation .
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Degree in Engineering, Energy Systems, Electrical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline.
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You are at ease communicating in English.
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Research or academic collaboration experience, including an active network within universities or research institutions, would be a strong plus.
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Knowledge of industrial decarbonization, energy systems, power electronics, datacenter architectures, or power infrastructure design is considered a nice to have.
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Experience with distributed energy resources, microgrids, or emerging fuel technologies such as hydrogen, ammonia, or SMRs would be an advantage.
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Willingness to travel internationally up to 20–30%.
Compensation Package
This opportunity is open to candidates in multiple countries, with the final work location determined based on the selected candidate. As compensation may vary by location, we are committed to being transparent throughout the hiring process and will share details of the salary range, variable compensation and benefits package with candidates who progress to the first interview stage.
The offer will be tailored based on your role location, experience, skills and qualifications, internal market positioning and alignment with ABB internal standards.
Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.
