Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Architecture and Engineering
The job starts on site: structural and electrical details are gathered so a solar system can be sized and placed for that building and climate. Plans cover solar electric arrays or solar water and space heating, plus how the system will be monitored after it is running. Electrical diagrams and panel schedules are drawn in CAD, and computer models estimate how much energy the array will produce. During install, start-up, and testing, the crew gets technical direction, and the finished system is checked against the design. It suits people who like mixing site visits with desk work and walking installers through specs.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$122'930
Median Wage Market Position
$122'930
What you might do
- Design photovoltaic and solar thermal systems
- Audit sites for structural and electrical details
- Write design specifications and functional requirements
- Draw single-line diagrams and panel schedules
- Simulate energy output to refine system design
- Guide installers through start-up and testing
Skills that matter
- Designing photovoltaic and solar thermal systems
- Reading structural and electrical site data
- Preparing electrical single-line diagrams in CAD
- Simulating photovoltaic energy production
- Directing installers during start-up and testing
- Recommending changes that meet solar design objectives
AI & the future of this role
Site surveys, code compliance, and client tradeoffs still need engineering judgment that software alone rarely settles. Generative tools may speed layout and performance modeling, though growing solar demand could keep skilled designers in the mix.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details