Solar Energy Installation Managers

What the job really is

Direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.

At a glance

• Sector: Construction & Extraction
• O*NET-SOC code: 47-1011
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
• Supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
• Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
• Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
• Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.
• Coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.
• Perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.
• Identify means to reduce costs, minimize risks, or increase efficiency of solar installation projects.
• Assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.
• Assess potential solar installation sites to determine feasibility and design requirements.
• Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.
• Visit customer sites to determine solar system needs, requirements, or specifications.

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D, Autodesk Revit, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Word, Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Solar Photovoltaic Installers
• First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
• Solar Sales Representatives and Assessors
• Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
• Construction Managers
• Project Management Specialists
• Wind Energy Development Managers
• Construction and Building Inspectors

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Solar Energy Installation Managers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.