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.

Also Known As:

Consulting Engineer Engineer Photovoltaic System Designer (PV System Designer) Power Systems Engineer Project Engineer Research Engineer Solar Design Engineer Solar Designer Solar Energy Engineer Solar Engineer

Wages

Hourly

Annual wages for Solar Energy Systems Engineers in United States

Job Outlook Below Average

New job opportunities are less likely in the future

United States 2034 Projected Employment

162,100

2% Change From 2024

Explore Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar video

Tasks you might complete in a day.

Subject areas you may need to master.

Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Food Production - Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
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.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
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.
Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Foreign Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Sales and Marketing - Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Administrative - Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Strengths you may need in this role.

Systems Evaluation - Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Management of Personnel Resources - Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Science - Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Technology Design - Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
Operations Analysis - Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
Programming - Writing computer programs.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Negotiation - Bringing people together to solve differences.
Learning Strategies - Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
Instructing - Teaching people how to do something.
Management of Material Resources - Managing equipment and materials.
Management of Financial Resources - Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Writing - Writing things for co-workers or customers.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Service Orientation - Looking for ways to help people.
Persuasion - Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
Quality Control Analysis - Testing how well a product or service works.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
Mathematics - Using math to solve problems.
Equipment Maintenance - Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
Equipment Selection - Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
Troubleshooting - Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
Originality - Creating new and original ideas.
Number Facility - Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Visualization - Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Sound Localization - Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Gross Body Equilibrium - Keeping your balance or staying upright.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Explosive Strength - Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
Dynamic Flexibility - Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Category Flexibility - Grouping things in different ways.
Mathematical Reasoning - Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Finger Dexterity - Putting together small parts with your fingers.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Fluency of Ideas - Coming up with lots of ideas.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Wrist-Finger Speed - Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
Speed of Limb Movement - Quickly moving your arms and legs.
Written Expression - Communicating by writing.
Speed of Closure - Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Memorization - Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Stamina - Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
Trunk Strength - Using your lower back and stomach.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Extent Flexibility - Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Static Strength - Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
Dynamic Strength - Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
Gross Body Coordination - Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.