Description
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.
Interests
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Conventional
Work Values
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Independence
Work Styles
- Attention to Detail
- Dependability
- Integrity
- Cooperation
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Tasks
- 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.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Detailed Work Activities
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- 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.
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Technology Skills
- Analytical or scientific software
- Presentation software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Development environment software
- Object or component oriented development software
Abilities
- Deductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Fluency of Ideas
Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Writing
Knowledge
- Engineering and Technology
- Design
- Building and Construction
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
Most Common Education Level
The “Most Common Education Level” refers to the level of education held by the majority of workers in a given occupation. For example, if the highest percentage of workers in a role have an Associate’s Degree, that suggests this is the typical educational requirement. Knowing this helps you plan how many years of education you may need to pursue that career.
Certificates
Certificate name
Energy Risk ProfessionalCertifying Organization
Global Association of Risk Professionals
Type
Core
Certifying Organization
ETA International
Type
Core
Certificate name
PV Design SpecialistCertifying Organization
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
Energy Code SpecialistCertifying Organization
International Code Council
Type
Specialty
Certificate name
LEED AP Neighborhood DevelopmentCertifying Organization
Green Business Certification Inc.
Type
Advanced
Income Percentile
The income percentiles show how earnings are distributed within a profession. The 10th percentile means that 10% of workers earned less than that amount. The median (50th percentile) indicates that half of workers earned more, and half earned less. The 90th percentile reflects what the top 10% of earners in the field make.
| Income Percentile | Annual Income |
|---|---|
| Low (10%) | $77,623 |
| Median (50%) | $111,576 |
| High (90%) | $159,980 |
Income by Experience
This table shows how income typically grows with experience—from entry level (0–2 years), to mid-level (3–5 years), to senior level (6–8 years), to expert level (8+ years).
| Experience | Income |
|---|---|
Entry Level  | N/A |
| Mid Level | N/A |
| Senior Level | N/A |
| Expert Level | N/A |
Employability
There are currently 161,100 jobs in this career path. Over the next 10 years, that number is expected to increase to 169,200 positions, reflecting a projected growth of 5%.
The Projected Job Growth figure refers to the expected increase or decrease in employment within a specific career field over a certain period of time.
Projected Job Growth of 5%
Related Careers
The career information and data on this site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services, Lightcast, CareerOneStop, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For more details regarding the data sources and the specific information sourced, click here.
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