There’s no doubting the exponential growth and optimistic forecast throughout the solar industry. After all, the world continues to shift toward more green-friendly energy.
Below are three sought-after jobs throughout this industry. Read on, and learn about the outlook, skills/qualifications, and outlooks involved in these positions.
Heavy Equipment Operators
Requirements:
At solar energy facilities, this role’s duties begin with operating and maneuvering heavy equipment on a given site, safely and efficiently. Beyond that is the need to ensure the equipment functions optimally. Furthermore, operators must maintain the equipment with regular cleaning and simple repairs.
Plus, this role necessitates the secure storage of equipment. Lastly, heavy equipment operators must coordinate with crew members who reach out via hand/audio signals.
Skills/Qualifications:
• Several years of experience with solar construction projects
• A well-rounded grasp of production procedures and safety processes.
• Proficiency in interpreting blueprints, schematics, and manuals.
• Thinking analytically.
• A focus on the small, crucial details.
• Ability to seamlessly collaborate.
• Strength and endurance for manual labor.
• A steady hand with heavy equipment.
• Keeping up with daily activity and work schedule requirements.
Outlook:
It’s believed that solar projects’ continued growth will lead to far more jobs in this sphere. In fact, the solar industry employed more people in 2016 than the oil, coal, and gas spaces combined.
Solar Photovoltaic PV Installers/Assemblers
Requirements:
These employees’ day-to-day centers around installing, setting up, and maintaining systems (rooftop or otherwise) meant to yield energy from sunlight.
Primarily, PV Assemblers work outdoors. However, they can find themselves in attics and crawl spaces to hook panels up to the electrical grid. There’s also the matter of traveling to job sites.
Skills/Qualifications:
• No requisite certification is required, but technical or community college schooling is a plus.
• A fundamental grasp of solar PV.
• A firm understanding of the basic principles, procedures, and practices of PV installation.
• Rudimentary construction, mechanical, and electrical proficiency.
• Ability to solve straightforward math problems.
• Exceptional listening and communication skills.
• Comfortability with heights.
• Familiarity with climbing ladders and using heavy equipment.
Outlook:
Between 2019 and 2029, the job market for PV installers is estimated to grow 51%, far exceeding the average of most occupations.
Solar Thermal Engineers
Requirements:
This role revolves around giving technical support to the operating, maintaining, and planning departments throughout the solar facility.
More specifically, solar thermal engineers resolve problems with plant performance, procedures, and reliability.
Engineers must interpret performance-related data from an array of systems. Then, they are to develop and implement plans and procedures that streamline production and reliability.
Moreover, engineers project production results based on weather forecasts and what equipment is available. Thus, they’re collaborating with management for planning purposes.
Expect to work alongside these teams and individuals as a solar thermal engineer:
• Engineering manager
• Operations manager
• Maintenance manager
• Planner
• Plant manager
• Corporate operations and engineering departments
Skills/Qualifications:
• Reliability when following thorough instructions with limited supervision.
• A knack for analysis and problem-solving.
• Keen judgment skills and outside-the-box thinking when solving problems.
• Proficiency in using computers to perform complex analytical diagnosis.
• Exceptional collaborative skills.
• Knowledge in cross-departmental relations and communications.
• A firm enough grasp on engineering procedures to successfully instruct others on such tasks.
• Adaptability to proprietary technology.
• Possessing a bachelor’s or masters in engineering.
Outlook:
By 2018, solar engineering jobs were expected to grow by 5% per year.
Seeking Out Top-Notch Solar Energy Talent?
As more jobs are created throughout this industry, solar companies must ensure they do everything in their power to land the best performing talent.
This brings the focus of the blog to Anistar Technologies—we work alongside a steady stream of high-level solar employees. If you’re interested in learning about our impressively viable recruitment pool, contact us today.
