What You'll Do

  • Test or evaluate photovoltaic (PV) cells or modules.
  • Review specifications and recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives.
  • Perform thermal, stress, or cost reduction analyses for solar systems.
  • Develop standard operation procedures and quality or safety standards for solar installation work.
  • Design or develop vacuum tube collector systems for solar applications.
  • Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.
  • Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency.
  • Develop design specifications and functional requirements for residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems or components.
  • Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
  • Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0/5
Critical Thinking 4.0/5
Writing 3.88/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.88/5
Active Listening 3.75/5
Mathematics 3.38/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.38/5
Science 3.25/5
Active Learning 3.25/5
Monitoring 3.25/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Integrity, Cooperation, Adaptability/Flexibility

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Written Comprehension 4.0/5
Written Expression 4.0/5
Problem Sensitivity 4.0/5
Deductive Reasoning 4.0/5
Oral Expression 3.88/5
Fluency of Ideas 3.88/5
Inductive Reasoning 3.88/5
Oral Comprehension 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Ansys Fluent Aurora HelioScope Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk AutoCAD LT Autodesk Revit Bash C++ Computer aided design and drafting CADD software Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Data acquisition software Data visualization software Database software Debugging software Energy-10 ETAP Finite element method FEM software Geographic information system GIS systems Global positioning system GPS software Google Workspace software HOMER Micropower Optimization Model

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.61/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.29/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.18/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.04/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 4.0/5)

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How to Become One

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. Some positions may also require experience through internships, co-ops, or entry-level work to strengthen your candidacy.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Applications Engineer Consulting Engineer Engineer Photovoltaic System Designer (PV System Designer) Power Systems Engineer Project Engineer Renewable Energy Specialist Research Engineer Solar Applications Development Engineer Solar Array Engineer Solar Design Engineer Solar Designer Solar Development Engineer Solar Energy Advisor Solar Energy Contractor Solar Energy Engineer Solar Energy Systems Designer Solar Energy Systems Engineer Solar Engineer Solar Mechanical Engineer Solar Performance Engineer Solar Process Engineer Solar Professional Engineer (Solar PE) Solar Project Engineer Solar PV Designer (Solar Photovoltaic Designer) Solar PV Engineer (Solar Photovoltaic Engineer) Solar PV Product Development Engineer (Solar Photovoltaic Product Development Engineer) Solar PV Systems Engineer (Solar Photovoltaic Systems Engineer) Solar Systems Designer Utility Scale Engineer