Solar Energy Systems Engineer
Other Titles
Consulting Engineer, Distributed Energy Systems Consultant, Energy Systems Laboratory Director, Field Engineer, Power Systems Engineer, Renewable Energy Manager, Research Engineer, Solar Engineer
Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.
Solar Energy Systems Engineers inspects and evaluates the sites of residential and commercial solar systems. Using the data from such inspections, they design and develop efficient solar power systems. They gather structural and electrical information from the site and use this information in designing solar systems. They also create connection diagrams and other specification documents as part of the design process. A part of their job is to review existing solar energy systems. By evaluating them, they propose suitable manufacturing or engineering modifications to improve its performance.
Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems.
Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings.
Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
Review specifications and recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives.
Develop design specifications and functional requirements for residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems or components.
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 standard operation procedures and quality or safety standards for solar installation work.
Create checklists for review or inspection of completed solar installation projects.
Test or evaluate photovoltaic (PV) cells or modules.
Perform thermal, stress, or cost reduction analyses for solar systems.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making→ Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing→ Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Mathematics→ Using mathematics to solve problems.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Science→ Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing→ Teaching others how to do something.
Time Management→ Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment→ Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Thinking Creatively→ Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information→ Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others→ Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Monitoring and Controlling Resources→ Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Selling or Influencing Others→ Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Design alternative energy systems.
Collect data about project sites.
Create graphical representations of energy production systems.
Evaluate plans or specifications to determine technological or environmental implications.
Recommend technical design or process changes to improve efficiency, quality, or performance.
Determine design criteria or specifications.
Provide technical guidance to other personnel.
Create models of engineering designs or methods.
Determine operational methods.
Inspect finished products to locate flaws.
Test green technologies or processes.
Analyze costs and benefits of proposed designs or projects.
Analyze green technology design requirements.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Fluency of Ideas→ The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Mathematical Reasoning→ The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Originality→ The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Category Flexibility→ The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Number Facility→ The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Visualization→ The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Engineering and Technology→ Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Design→ Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Building and Construction→ Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Physics→ Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
Computers and Electronics→ Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Analytical or scientific software -- Data acquisition software; Simulation software; Data visualization software; Finite element method FEM software; Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine SMARTS; Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment SWERA; SOLAR-2; SolTrace; The MathWorks MATLAB; PV Optics; PVsyst; ANSYS FLUENT
Computer aided design CAD software -- Computer aided design and drafting CADD software; Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit; Autodesk AutoCAD LT; Dassault Systemes SolidWorks; TurboCAD IMSI; Trimble SketchUp Pro
Customer relationship management CRM software -- e.g., Zoho; Xero; Salesforce software
Database user interface and query software -- Database software; Structured query language SQL; Microsoft Access
Development environment software -- Software development tools; Microsoft Visual Basic; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA; National Instruments LabVIEW ;
Electronic mail software -- e.g., Zoho Mail; Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software -- e.g., Infor; Sage; Oracle Hyperion
Graphics or photo imaging software -- e.g., Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop; GNU Image Manipulation Program GIMP; Microsoft Visio; Trimble SketchUp Pro; SmugMug Flickr
Industrial control software-- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
Mobile location based services software -- Global positioning system GPS software
Object or component oriented development software -- e.g., C#; Apache Groovy; Advanced business application programming ABAP; C++; Python; Scala; Practical extraction and reporting language Perl; Microsoft ActiveX
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace
Operating system software -- e.g., Apple macOS; Bash; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux; Microsoft Windows; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script; Ubuntu; UNIX
Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint
Program testing software -- Debugging software
Project management software -- e.g., Confluence; Sapama Projects; Sciforma PPM solution; Xero Projects; Microsoft Project; Easy Projects; Microsoft SharePoint; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets
Web platform development software -- e.g., Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Extensible HyperText Markup Language XHTML; Backbone.js; Hypertext markup language HTML; Google AngularJS; JavaScript; Microsoft ASP.NET
Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs
Abrasion testers
Ageing ovens→ Accelerated weathering machines; Solar simulators
Ammeters→ Picoammeters; Recording ammeters
Analytical balances→ High-precision balances
Atomic absorption AA spectrometers→ Atomic absorption spectrometers
Binocular light compound microscopes→ Optical compound microscopes
Brushless motor DC→ Direct current DC power supplies
Calorimeters→ Differential scanning calorimeters
Capacitance meters→ Inductance capacitance resistance LCR meters
Colorimeters→ Spectrocolorimeters
Compression testers
Coulometers→ Flow coulometric detectors
Creep testers
Electrical frequency meters→ Phase angle meters
Electrometers
Extruders→ Film extruders
Fatigue testers
Fish tape→ Pull testers
Flexure or transverse testing machines→ Flexure testers
Frequency calibrator or simulator→ Photovoltaic array simulators
Goniometers
Graphic recorders→ Current versus voltage IV curve tracers
Graphics tablets
Hand held camcorders or video cameras→ Video cameras
Hardness testers
Hipot testers
Impact testers
Infrared dryers→ Ultraviolet UV exposure units
Infrared imagers→ Infrared cameras
Infrared spectrometers→ Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers
Isolation glove boxes→ Inert atmosphere glove boxes
Laboratory evaporators→ Electron beam evaporators; Vacuum evaporators
Laboratory mechanical convection ovens→ Bench ovens; Humidity ovens
Laminators→ Vacuum laminators
Laser fax machine→ Laser facsimile machines
Laser printers
Lasers
Liquid chromatographs→ Liquid chromatographs LC
Load frame→ Load frames
Mass spectrometers
Megohmmeters→ Meggers
Metal testing instruments→ Adhesion testers
Moisture meters→ Moisture analyzers
Multi gas monitors→ Permeation testers
Optical character recognition systems→ Optical scanners
Orbital shakers→ Mechanical shakers
Personal computers
pH meters
Photocopiers→ Copy machines
Plotter printers→ Plotters
Pocket calculator→ Hand calculators
Polarimeters→ Polarographic analyzers
Portable data input terminals→ Data loggers
Potentiometers→ Chronopotentiometers; Potentiostats
Power meters→ Apparent power meters; Power quality meters; Reactive power meters
Refrigerated and heated reach in environmental or growth chambers→ Environmental chambers
Resistance thermometers→ Digital resistance thermometers
Rheometers
Roughness measuring instruments→ Surface profilometers
Scanning electron microscopes→ Field emission scanning electron microscopes FESEM; Scanning electron microscopes SEM
Scanning probe microscopes→ Scanning probe microscopes SPM
Semiconductor process systems→ Spin coaters; Sputtering systems; Ion beam assisted deposition IBAD systems; Focused ion beam FIB systems; Mask aligners; Ion mills; Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition PECVD systems; Micromanipulators
Semiconductor testers→ Lifetime testers
Shear strength testers→ Shear testers
Signal generators→ Digital pattern generators
Solar radiation surface observing apparatus→ Irradiance detectors; Pyranometers
Spectrometers→ Auger electron spectrometers; Electron energy loss spectrometers; Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometers EDS; X-ray photoelectron spectrometers; Photoluminescence spectrometers; Raman spectrometers; Reflectance spectrometers
Spectrophotometers→ Fluorescence spectrophotometers
Strain gauges
Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers→ Thermal cyclers
Tension testers→ Tensile testers
Thermo gravimetry analyzers→ Thermogravimetric analyzers
Thermocouples→ Thermopiles
Thickness measuring devices→ Spectroscopic ellipsometers
Transmission electron microscopes→ Transmission electron microscopes TEM
Tube furnaces→ Laboratory tube furnaces
Ultrasonic cleaning equipment→ Ultrasonic cleaners
Vacuum ovens
Videoscopes→ Digital imaging microscopes
Voltage or current meters→ Voltmeters
X ray diffraction equipment→ X ray diffractometers
Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Achievement→ Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.