Solar Energy Systems Engineers
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.
Sample of reported job titles:
Consulting Engineer, Distributed Energy Systems Consultant, Field Engineer, Power Systems Engineer, Research Engineer, Solar Engineer
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- 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.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software:Ansys Fluent,Data acquisition software,Data visualization software,Energy-10,Finite element method FEM software,HOMER Micropower Optimization Model,National Instruments Compact FieldPoint System,Optical Physics Technologies SUN_CHART,PV Optics,PVsyst,Regional Energy Deployment System ReEDS,RETScreen,Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine SMARTS,Simulation software,Solar Advisor Model,Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment SWERA,SOLAR-2,SolTrace,The MathWorks MATLAB
- Computer aided design CAD software:Autodesk AutoCAD,Autodesk AutoCAD LT,Autodesk Revit,Computer aided design and drafting CADD software,Dassault Systemes SolidWorks,IMSI TurboCAD,Trimble SketchUp Pro
- Customer relationship management CRM software:Salesforce software
- Data base user interface and query software:Database software,Microsoft Access,Structured query language SQL
- Development environment software:Microsoft Visual Basic,Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA,National Instruments LabVIEW,Software development tools
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- 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.
Detailed Work Activities
- Analyze costs and benefits of proposed designs or projects.
- Analyze green technology design requirements.
- Collect data about project sites.
- Create graphical representations of energy production systems.
- Create models of engineering designs or methods.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail:86% responded"Every day"
- Telephone:82% responded"Every day"
- Level of Competition:64% responded"Moderately competitive"
- Face-to-Face Discussions:59% responded"Every day"
- Freedom to Make Decisions:59% responded"Some freedom"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- 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.
Knowledge
- 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.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 73%Bachelor's Degree
- 9%Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- 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.
Interests
- 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.
Work Values
- 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.
Work Styles
- 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.
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