O&M Service Technician - Commercial
Supervisor: Director of O&M
Classification: Full-time, hourly
The O&M (Operations & Maintenance) Service Technician - Commercial, is responsible for ensuring operational excellence within the maintenance and commissioning (Cx) aspects of the solar industry through a focus on troubleshooting, diagnosing, and maintaining a variety of PV and Solar Thermal systems. You must already reside in Los Angeles or Orange Counties.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES
- Troubleshoot PV and Solar Thermal system communication and performance issues. Locate / isolate faults and implement code compliant fixes in the field in a safe / efficient manner.
- Document results and provide a technical report and concise descriptions of any quality issues, including those which have noted deficiencies requiring corrective action.
- Inspect properties and materials for compliance with plans, specifications, and manufacturers' requirements.
- Perform training education program by rolling out our training program to different customer groups, such as PV asset owner, EPC teams, and/or installers.
- Demonstrate understanding of and ability to follow operating, switching, maintenance, safety, and environmental procedures.
- Working knowledge of industrial or power facility operation and maintenance.
- Knowledge of local and national electrical and/or plumbing codes.
- Provide feedback to sales/design/install teams for best practice improvement.
- Coordinate warranty RMA process.
- Commission PV systems to include testing such as IR scans, IV curve trace, torque checks, and visual inspections.
- Conduct corrective maintenance - solar panel replacement, inverter replacement, and communication problems.
- In-depth experience testing and troubleshooting standard building voltage up to the Utility meter level or interconnection point, including transformers (potential & current), breakers, relays, contactors, motors, and inverters.
TECHNICIAN LEVELS:
TECH LEVEL 4: Requires a technician with an expert level understanding, experience, and proficiency with PV and Solar Thermal systems.
- Ability to meet and exceed all requirements of Tech Level 3.
- Highly Proficient in 2 or more Manufacturers (i.e. SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, Yotta, CPS, etc.).
- Ability to commission and troubleshoot multiple Solar Thermal & PV systems.
- Master of AC/DC as it relates to troubleshooting.
- OSHA 30 Certification, NFPA70 (Arc Flash).
- Advanced experience in reading and understanding plans, manuals and documents.
- Strong knowledge of Building, Electrical, and Plumbing Code as it relates to PV and Thermal systems.
- Proficient in Google Applications Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc.) and PDF/Bluebeam, Miter, and Raken Pro.
- Capable of working in an office setting, communicating with manufacturers, clients and internal Cal Solar staff.
- Inspect properties and materials for compliance with plans, specifications, & manufacturers' and/or AHJ requirements.
- Troubleshoot and diagnose any system with site specific visits or via the multiple monitoring platforms currently utilized, and train field or office staff on these platforms.
TECH LEVEL 5: Requires a technician with an expert level understanding, experience, and highly proficiency with PV and Solar Thermal systems.
- Ability to meet and exceed all requirements of Tech Level 4.
- Expert knowledge in 3 or more Manufacturers (i.e. SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, Yotta, CPS, Fronius, etc.).
- Ability to manage multiple Service projects simultaneously while completing day to day tasks.
- Master of AC/DC in all aspects.
- OSHA 30 Certification, NFPA70 (Arc Flash), and possibly NABCEP or JW.
- Superior experience in reading and understanding plans, manuals, & documents. Ability to quickly recognize differences or deviations of an installed system compared to the contract documents.
- Expert in Building, Electrical, and Plumbing Code as it relates to PV and Thermal systems.
- Strong knowledge / expertise in Google Applications Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc.) and PDF/Bluebeam, Miter, and Raken Pro.
- Adept at working in an office setting, communicating with manufacturers, clients and internal Cal Solar staff.
Key Qualifications & Required Skills/Abilities
- Four-year college degree and/or equivalent work experience (preferred).
- OSHA-30 certification (preferred) and a strong safety background with experience in Lockout Tag Out & Job Hazard Analysis.
- Field experience in construction, Cx, operations, and maintenance of commercial, industrial, & utility solar construction projects.
- Experienced in Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) throughout PV project life cycle.
- Extensive technical knowledge of at least 3 different inverter manufacturers.
- Strong understanding of the NEC (wire sizing, equipment ratings, installation requirements, theory, etc.), NFPA 70E electrical safety guidelines, and plumbing code, with ability to reference these codes as required.
- Working knowledge of Uniform Building Code (UBC) and building materials/techniques.
- Strong understanding of grid-tied PV, solar domestic hot water, piping systems, pumped fluid circuits, and closed-loop heating systems.
- Ability to read, understand, problem-solve, implement site-redesign, and mark-up (redline) electrical, plumbing, and structural plans.
- Experience working directly with city/county permitting offices and inspectors.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to write technical reports & communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills/mindset.
- Excellent organizational & attention to detail/process, superb analytical/problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Possess a positive attitude, ability to work independently, show initiative, and operate with a sense of urgency.
- Excellent time management skills - ability to meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, delegate, and support multiple projects in various stages of construction.
- Strong supervisory and leadership skills with the ability to effectively train, motivate, and hold others accountable.
- Punctual and able to attend regular team meetings and arrive at the job site on time.
- Experience with Google Applications Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail, etc.), PDF/Bluebeam, Miter, and Raken.
- Ability to use fieldwork software technology tools and navigate numerous computer applications and technology independently.
- Must pass a motor vehicle record check. Valid California Driver's License is required.
- Ability to work inside tight spaces, as well as outside, on various roof surfaces, and in varied weather conditions.
- Ability to safely lift and carry 50+ pounds to chest height.
- Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred.
- Ability to work extended hours required for optimal/efficient execution daily.
- Able to travel at least 50% of the time within the state of CA.
The starting hourly base pay for this role is between USD $50.00 to $60.00/Hr. The actual base is dependent upon many factors, such as: location, training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
Benefits:
Competitive salaries, Health/vision/dental insurance, 401(k) plan with 6% match, Paid holidays, and Flexible PTO.
