Top Solar Engineering Skills Your Resume Needs

Solar is one of Australia’s fastest-growing engineering disciplines. With major carbon reduction targets in place, many private and public organisations are investing in solar energy. Competition for Solar Engineers is high as a result, making this an excellent time to jump into the industry!

If you have a background in engineering or are considering a career change to take advantage of the solar revolution, it pays to know what employers are looking for in Solar Engineers. Understanding these skills can help with writing a CV and landing the job you want.

Read on to discover the most important skills for solar engineering roles in Australia and how to demonstrate these in your CV.

Technical Skills for Solar Engineering Roles

To work as a Solar Engineer, you can start with a qualification in electrical or mechanical engineering and then study renewable energy engineering. Or, you can start with a renewable engineering course that covers all the technical requirements and gain accreditations as you need them.

The key technical skills to include on your CV include:

• Knowledge of solar technology and equipment: To create efficient and effective solar systems, you’ll have a strong understanding of solar resource theory, solar panels, inverters, batteries and other system components.
• Solar system design: To carry out solar design work, you will need accreditation from the Clean Energy Council (CEC). You will be familiar with computer-aided design tools such as SketchUp, AutoCAD and Pvsyst to configure systems and identify the components that match the system’s power requirements.
• Single-line diagrams: Single-line diagrams show the electrical connections, components and specifications of a solar power system in a simplified, one-line format. As an Engineer, you will know how to use software to draw up SLDs, which construction and maintenance teams will use. 
• Solar installations: Solar engineering roles often involve a mix of work in the office and attending sites to inspect installations. When writing a CV for a Solar Engineer position, it’s a good idea to outline your installation know-how and your ability to assess installation work.
• Safety: Working with live electricity, often at heights, makes safety one of the key solar engineering skills. If you are leading teams, you will be expected to assess the safety risks of your team and ensure everyone is licenced to carry out their work.
• Project modelling, assessment and reporting: If you’re designing solar systems, you will be expected to report on the viability of a potential installation. This will usually involve factors like up-front costs, payback periods and expected maintenance.
• Market knowledge: When working on projects as a Solar Engineer, companies will expect you to have a good understanding of the renewables markets in Australia, common customer requirements and what influences contract pricing.

Essential ‘Soft’ Skills for Solar Engineers

‘Soft skills’ might sound like an afterthought for solar engineering roles. But you can trust us when we say they are no less important than technical solar engineering skills! Soft skills basically relate to your communication abilities, how you manage yourself and work as part of a team. When writing a CV, be sure to include these:

• Communication skills: Effective communication with clients, team members, and stakeholders to ensure projects are completed successfully.
• Problem-solving: Your ability to identify and solve technical problems related to solar systems.
• Attention to detail: Paying close attention to details to ensure quality and safety in solar installations.
• Analytical skills: Your ability to analyse and interpret data related to the installation or maintenance of solar energy systems.
• Teamwork: Collaborating effectively with other Engineers, Technicians, and contractors to complete solar projects.
• Customer service: Providing excellent customer service to clients throughout the solar installation process.
• Project management: Ability to manage timelines, budgets, and resources for solar projects.

Get Some Help

A final piece of advice: When applying for a role, remember to read the job description carefully and tailor your CV to match it. This will make your application as relevant to the role as possible – and quickly show employers that you have the skills and experience they’re looking for.

Need more help with crafting your CV, or finding your next solar engineering job? Here at JV Recruitment, we help Engineers around Australia find great jobs in the energy and renewables industries. Contact us today to start building your future.