The expanding solar universe offers innumerable careers; this map explores 40. An ambitious worker could progress within any of these solar-related occupations, or seek the skills and credentials to advance between them. Click any dot to find out more.
There are many ways to pursue evolving interests or new opportunities in solar. These wide-ranging sample career routes are intended to suggest affinity and possibility; each would entail significant intermediate sequences of work and learning. Click a path on the right to explore other solar itineraries.
America’s solar industry needs the technical skills of America’s veterans, and with appropriate training and certification, transitioning service members can make solid solar career matches. Military skills translate well for electrical and mechanical technicians, logistics specialists, and engineers. Explore logical targets below.
IT specialists support clean energy’s cutting edge digital tools — for photovoltaic system design and monitoring; solar investment, finance, and sales; project permitting and service logistics.
Job DetailEntry-level installers assemble and mount photovoltaic systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with system design schematics
Job DetailSupervise teams of basic PV installers at a worksite. Motivate and coordinate, keeping crews focused and on schedule; verifying safety procedures and equipment, and providing quality assurance.
Job DetailCoordinates all of the workers and materials involved in a solar installation, managing time and budgets, and translating between engineers, system designers, and installers in the field.
Job DetailSolar instructors transmit the industry’s fundamental principles and best practices — in science, technology, craft, and safety — to students at every level. They are experts, teachers, visionaries.
Job DetailIdentify, cultivate, and manage third-party vendors to service residential or commercial solar installations. Interact with multiple business interests to ensure service level agreements are met. Oversee logistics coordination for existing and new solar installation equipment.
Job DetailSoftware engineers design cutting edge digital tools — for PV system design and monitoring; clean energy investment, finance, and sales; field training, project permitting, and service logistics.
Job DetailUse best practices in roofing to install racking systems, mount photovoltaic panels or thermal collectors; and waterproof the flashing around installed components.
Job DetailHVAC Technicians install, service, and repair commercial solar thermal systems. They also manage whole-building systems, which is key to the future of residential solar energy.
Job DetailResidential Service Technicians are quality assurance professionals who monitor, diagnose, optimize and repair underperforming PV systems.
Job DetailPV Installers are the solid core of the solar industry: They set up and maintain the sophisticated equipment and wiring that connects a solar energy system to the electrical grid.
Job DetailInstall or repair tanks, piping, and other components of solar thermal systems. Pull permits and ensure that work complies with plumbing and building codes. May sell related equipment and systems.
Job DetailOperation and maintenance (O&M) of large-scale photovoltaic systems involves highly technical performance monitoring with sophisticated instrumentation and controls.
Job DetailSolar Assessors evaluate sites in-person or remotely to determine how much energy can be harvested at a given location, then make written and verbal system recommendations to potential customers.
Job DetailGenerally licensed in a trade, a contractor plans and directs solar installation projects – submitting bids, pulling permits, and managing material, labor and equipment.
Job DetailInstall, maintain and repair electrical wiring, equipment and fixtures for PV systems. Ensure that work complies with electrical and building codes.
Job DetailContact prospective customers to determine their solar energy and equipment needs. Evaluate and recommend systems, estimate cost benefits, provide written summaries, and follow-up with customers.
Job DetailSolar Marketing Specialists analyze the promotional potential of a solar company and create outreach programs and advertising tools to drive business expansion.
Job DetailBuilding inspectors examine solar-related structures using construction experience to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes and other regulations.
Job DetailCombining the best sites and technologies to produce the most effective solar energy solutions for their clients, solar project developers provide a critical link between engineering, procurement, and construction.
Job DetailIdeally a solar PV trained electrician, the Electrical Inspector examines electrical systems and equipment to confirm that they are safe, functional, and conform to code.
Job DetailCode Officials examine plans for construction, alteration or repair of buildings and associated solar equipment systems to ensure compliance with building and safety codes and regulations.
Job DetailA residential PV designer devises small-scale photovoltaic systems — grid-tied and stand-alone — for individual homes and related dwellings.
Job DetailWork with engineers in applying the theory and principles of engineering to plan, design, evaluate, and improve the performance of solar energy-related equipment, processes, and facilities.
Job DetailRepresent clients in regulatory proceedings; draft legal documents and contracts; assist clients with project development and financing; and manage or advise clients on regulatory compliance matters.
Job DetailDevelop contracts for solar energy delivery and tactics to negotiate favorable terms; Build strategic relationships with new and existing solar producers; Track related policy and energy markets;
Job DetailA Utility Interconnection Engineer manages the interconnection of power generation equipment to the electric grid, a job that involves design, evaluation, and technical or material problem-solving.
Job DetailDesign and/or analysis of structural support systems for solar projects; may supervise the construction of CSP plants, PV plants, and related structures.
Job DetailPerform site-specific engineering analysis of commercial, industrial, or utility-scale solar projects. Design large photovoltaic or solar thermal systems.
Job DetailPower systems engineers are experts in the large-scale generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power. They provide the power system research, development and analysis required to integrate renewable technologies into the grid.
Job DetailAdvanced Manufacturing Technicians set up, test, and adjust plant machinery and equipment, using any combination of electrical, electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or computer technologies.
Job DetailCNC operators run, monitor, and can advance to programming computerized machinery to produce the precisely crafted component parts essential to a wide variety of solar technologies.
Job DetailIdentify quality problems in solar component production; recommend and implement solutions.
Job DetailInstrumentation and Electronics Technicians help develop, test, calibrate, and manufacture electrical and electronic equipment , including solar components or the machines that make them.
Job DetailResearch, design, test and supervise the development and performance of equipment and components for solar PV systems.
Job DetailIndustrial engineers increase solar manufacturing productivity through the management of people, the use of technology, and the introduction of more efficient processes in solar component production.
Job DetailImprove solar manufacturing quality and efficiency by measuring and analyzing the design, integration, and operation of production systems, including hardware, software, and human capital.
Job DetailUsing tools and principles from a variety of engineering disciplines, establish practices to prevent, control, and/or remediate environmental, health and safety hazards in solar industry operations.
Job DetailMechanical engineers provide technical leadership and support for manufacturers in the design and development of new solar products, components, and equipment.
Job DetailStudy the structures/chemical properties of materials, including metals, alloys, rubber, ceramics, semiconductors, polymers and glass. Improve or invent new processes and materials for solar products.
Job DetailAlong the y-axis, jobs sit at three skill levels: Entry (pre-apprentice or apprentice-level, less than a 2-year post-secondary credential, 1-3 years experience), Mid- (journey or associate's level, 3-5 years experience), Advanced (master craft or bachelor's level and higher, 5+ years experience).
Along the x-axis, jobs fall into four broad sectors: Manufacturing, System Design, Project Development, Installation & Operations. There is much overlap and conversation between these linked segments of the solar value chain.
