Solar Technician

Company Description

Apex Clean Energy was founded with a singular focus: to accelerate the shift to clean energy. Through origination, construction, and operation of utility-scale wind, solar, and storage facilities, distributed energy resources, and green fuel technologies, Apex is expanding the renewable frontier across North America. Our mission-driven team of more than 400 professionals uses a data-focused approach and an unrivaled portfolio of projects to create solutions for the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking customers. For more information about how Apex is building the energy company of the future, visit apexcleanenergy.com.

Apex strives to excel in every phase of project realization, from origination and financing to construction and asset management. Our mission-driven team seeks determined, resolute individuals who strive to innovate and go above the call of duty, and who will relentlessly do their part to help accelerate the shift to America’s clean energy future. Job Description

We are seeking a Solar Technician to join our Site Team at our utility-scale solar site in Logan County, Illinois. This position is responsible for performing testing, troubleshooting and the repair of solar inverters at the site to meet maintenance schedules and performance standards such as Mean Time To Repair (MTTR). Focus will be placed on ensuring a safe, efficient, and environmentally sound plant operation through inspection of watch, electrical, mechanical, and electronic trouble shooting. Inspection will be performed daily for, mechanical component breakage or misalignment and electrical component failures preventing a collector or group of collectors from tracking. Reporting to the Facility Manager on site, you will receive instructions on forward looking assignments typically on a weekly cadence. Duties and tasks are standardized but what is performed will vary day to day.

- Hours: Full Time

- Type: Non-Exempt

- Department: Asset Management

- Travel: 25% - 30%

- Office Location: On Site

Primary Responsibilities

- Ensure proper operation, inspection, and maintenance of solar field equipment and associated solar components including inverters, tracker systems, transformers and substations, SCADA systems, road maintenance, vegetation assessments, general building maintenance, etc., perform QA/QC inspections in accordance with applicable SOP

- Proactively look for improvement opportunities to job appropriate processes and procedures

- Read schematics to troubleshoot complicated mechanical, and electrical, problems with inverters, tracker control systems, PV panels, and components

- Effectively gather information regarding solar performance issues associated with solar field equipment, met towers, metering, etc. May diagnose, recommend, and implement solutions up to intermediate routine issues. Seeks assistance when encountering issues outside trained skill level to ensure success in resolution

- Comply with all pertinent environmental health and safety programs

- Act as a safety role model by encouraging and recognizing others completing safe acts and intervening when unsafe acts are being practiced. Identify gaps in safety standards and safety risks in the work environment and provide recommendations to higher level technical staff and management

- Perform a variety of administrative duties satisfying both internal and external reporting requirements. Administrative responsibilities include but are not limited to; plan of the day (POD) reports, reviewing work orders, SAP processing, fault reports, offline inverter reports, and engineering cases.

- Demonstrate and promote integrity, strong initiative, and a no-compromise focus on safety and quality of work on a continuous basis

- Review completed service checklists for accuracy and maintain punch list for future work activities

- Engage appropriate internal and external resources to correct performance issues

- Ensure that reliable electronic communication is maintained between the solar field, substations, site office, and home office

- Responsible for facilitating training requirements as related to areas of safety and compliance training

- Work closely with equipment suppliers and service entities as needed

- Works on assignments that are semi-routine in nature where the ability to recognize nonconformities and develop solutions is required.

- Demonstrates superior workmanship and quality in all work areas.

- May act as the technical interface with the customer and with other Apex departments

- Professional appearance and courteous behavior is required at all times.

- Models a professional and positive work ethic.

- Ability to effectively work both independently and in a team environment

Qualifications

Success Profile To succeed as a Solar Technician at Apex Clean Energy, you’ll need to excel within the following criteria:

- AAS or higher degree in Electrical Engineering or related field

- Journeyman electrician or equivalent

- NABCEP, NEC, NFPA, OSHA certifications preferred

- Previous experience in electrical circuits and assemblies testing or troubleshooting

- Drone Pilot FAA 107 certification preferred

- Component identification and the ability to read technical assembly documentation and schematics

- Knowledge and understanding of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) practices

- Technical knowledge of solar inverter operation

- Arc Flash certification (will provide training if not already obtained)

- Previous experience with systems for tracking parts and labor

- Inverter diagnostics repair (preferred)

- Tracker diagnostics repair (preferred)

- Willing and able to work from our project site in Logan County, Illinois

Additional Information

Work Environment:

Works primarily in an outdoor environment, occasionally at night, which may be noisy and fast paced and subject to inclement weather. Many tasks are repetitive in motion and include the use of electronic assembly equipment. Extended hours may be required to complete scheduled repairs.

How You’ll Grow

At Apex Clean Energy, our professional development plans focus on helping people at every level of their career to identify and use their strengths to do their best work every day. From entry-level employees to senior leaders, we believe there’s always room to learn. We offer opportunities to help sharpen skills in addition to hands-on experience in the dynamic, fast-paced renewable energy industry. From on-the-job learning experiences to a robust multi-week onboarding experience to formal development programs, our professionals have a variety of opportunities to continue to grow throughout their career.

What Apex Can Offer You At Apex Clean Energy, we know that great people make a great company. We value our people and offer employees a broad, best-in-class range of benefits.

- A mission-driven, energetic environment that supports and encourages our people to do their best work every day.

- A respect for and celebration of individuality, differences, and uniqueness

- Collaborative and driven professional workforce committed to supporting your ideas and feedback and accelerating your potential

- Ongoing support and guidance such as on-the-job learning, hands-on experience, and mentorship

- Training, strategies, and tools to support your personal and professional growth

- Team atmosphere of diverse professionals committed to making an impact as an organization

- Opportunities to volunteer and give back to our local communities

- Exceptional benefits such as medical and dental; 401(k) with corporate match

- Base and bonus commensurate with experience

- Responsible Paid Time Off plus standard company holidays

- Benefits Offered: comprehensive high-deductible health plans, dental and vision insurance plans, short-term and long-term disability, group life insurance, 401(k) corporate matching, flexible spending arrangements, company paid parking and cell phone, fitness and wellness corporate discounts

At this time, Apex will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

Apex Clean Energy, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.