Schmitz joined from the Weichai Power Science & Technology Innovation Center in Aachen, Germany, where he was head of system technology in basic development of hydraulics and system technology since July 2020. From 2014 to 2020, Schmitz worked in the R&D department at Linde Hydraulics in Germany and China.
Schmitz graduated as an engineer from RWTH Aachen University in 2011 and received a Ph.D. in 2015.