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Solar Energy Systems Engineer

Overview and Key Facts

Wwoman and solar panel
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$117,750
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.10%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
162,100

What Do They Do?

A solar energy systems engineer could...

 
Dairy farm with solar panels
Help a dairy farmer become energy independent by designing a solar photovoltaic system that will fit on a barn roof.
Shower head
Design a solar hot-water heater for a home so that a family can enjoy long, hot showers without increasing their energy bill.
Solar install
Oversee the installation of a home solar energy system to make sure it is all done properly.
Plans near solar panels
Draw up blueprints of a solar photovoltaic system to be installed on the sides of a new skyscraper.
 
Dairy farm with solar panels Shower head Solar install Plans near solar panels

Overview Listen to this section

Does the idea of harvesting the enormous power of the sun interest you? If you find this exciting, then you should think about installing solar photovoltaic panels on your house to collect free electricity from the sun. But how energy efficient is your home already? Can it get better? How many panels would your house need? What would the system look like? You can get the answers to these questions and more from your local solar energy systems engineer. These engineers help their residential and commercial clients save on their electric bills and reduce their carbon footprint by performing energy audits and picking and designing the right solar energy system for them.
Watch this video and meet solar design engineer Stefania as she highlights the importance of renewable energy in today's world, and takes us through the phases of designing an aesthetically pleasing solar-powered system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oGo8P8CtJw

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Solar Energy Systems Engineer?


  1. Reading Comprehension: ?
  2. Critical Thinking: ?
  3. Writing: ?
  4. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  5. Speaking: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Solar Energy Systems Engineer might do:
  • Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems.
  • Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
  • Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings.
  • Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.
  • Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
  • Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency.
  • 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.
  • Develop standard operation procedures and quality or safety standards for solar installation work.
  • Create checklists for review or inspection of completed solar installation projects.
  • Perform thermal, stress, or cost reduction analyses for solar systems.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Solar Energy Systems Engineer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Solar Energy Systems Engineer jobs (2.10%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Solar Energy Systems Engineer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Solar energy systems engineers typically enter the occupation with a bachelor's degree in an engineering specialty. Engineers offering their services directly to the public must be licensed. Continuing education to keep current with rapidly changing technology is an important aspect of their career.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Bachelor's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline such as electrical or mechanical engineering is required for almost all entry-level jobs in this field, although some solar energy systems engineers don't have a professional engineering background. For example, their background may be in electrical or mechanical drafting, engineering technology, or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). College graduates with a degree in a natural science or mathematics occasionally may qualify for these engineering jobs, especially in high-demand professions such as solar energy systems engineering. Some positions require a graduate degree in engineering. In addition, most employers in this area seek to hire engineers who have earned a PE (professional engineer) license.

Solar energy systems engineering positions require a high level of computer skills and computer-aided design (CAD) capabilities. Applicants should have coursework in both computer science and CAD.

Companies That Hire Solar Energy Systems Engineers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read about Ray Shilling's program that enables communities to decentralize their energy generation by banding together to share renewable energy sources.
This image shows a typical community (this one in the UK) with what is termed a VPP, a Virtual Power Plant. Everyone in the neighborhood is connected, and sharing / buying / selling energy (with each other). 
Ray Shilling
Find out about Nathan James Van Gambling's ideas to heat up water with solar energy as he combines both his plumbing and renewable energy expertise.
The other miff we’ve got is people thinking that if it’s a cloudy day or it’s cold you can’t get heat from the sun. That’s nonsense. You can have a solar thermal system in the Antarctic and you can still boil water. 
Nathan James Van Gambling
Read about Steven Strong, a pioneer in the solar energy industry who helped design the first Major League Stadium to go solar.
Another exciting current project is a solar plus storage micro-grid to power [an] island off the New England coast. The island’s been supplied by an under-sea cable nearly 40 years old that..could fail at any time. 
Steven Strong

Nature of the Work

Solar energy systems engineers work to improve the energy efficiency of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings using solar energy systems. These engineers perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency for their customers. After evaluating the energy efficiency of the new or existing structure, they design solar hot-water and space-heating systems, applying their knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics to the designs. During the design phase, solar energy systems engineers create diagrams and plans using computer-aided design (or CAD) software. They also create the supporting documentation required for their projects, such as building permits, selection and specification of components, and design of systems and mechanical and electrical points of connection.

As part of their responsibilities, solar energy system engineers must lead and contribute to the writing of reports, studies, and analyses of projects and solar technologies. When working on a design for a client, they analyze the site, perform calculations, research the best technology for the client's needs, and experiment with system layouts. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to develop and communicate creative solutions to the client.

Work Environment

Solar energy systems engineers work in varied environments. They can interact directly with clients to collect data on their needs, monitor progress at a client's building site outdoors, and work with computers in office buildings. Some engineers travel extensively to buildings or work sites in the U.S. and abroad.

More Information

Ask Questions

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