Equipment Operator - Solar

Job Title: Operator - Solar

Job Description

This role involves operating all-terrain heavy equipment, primarily a 12K forklift and skid steer, to safely move and handle pallets of glass solar panels and related construction materials on a large-scale solar construction site. You will work closely with spotters and other crew members to support a wide range of site preparation, racking, electrical, and maintenance activities while maintaining high safety and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Operate a 12K all-terrain forklift, skid steer, and other heavy equipment to move and stage pallets of glass solar panels and construction materials with care to avoid damage.
• Use spotters and follow established safety protocols when lifting, transporting, and placing solar modules and other materials.
• Support general site requirements, including cleaning, waste management, and overall site maintenance.
• Assist with temporary dust control measures to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
• Participate in construction surveying activities as directed to support accurate placement of equipment and materials.
• Perform material receipt tasks, including unloading, inspecting, and organizing incoming materials.
• Contribute to racking activities, including rough PV racking and final PV racking installation support.
• Assist with PV module handling and staging to ensure modules are ready for installation.
• Support earthwork and site clearing operations by moving soil, debris, and materials as needed.
• Work around steel pile installation, inverters, and other solar infrastructure, coordinating equipment movements with installation crews.
• Operate equipment in areas where underground DC and AC electrical feeders, trenches, and backfill activities are taking place, following guidance from site supervisors and electricians.
• Handle materials associated with combiner boxes, PV skid AC and DC electrical components, and DC string wiring, ensuring safe and efficient movement.
• Participate in commissioning-related activities by supporting equipment and material movements during final project stages.
• Use basic hand and power tools as needed to support equipment operation, minor adjustments, and site tasks.
• Maintain equipment in a clean and functional state by performing basic inspections and reporting any issues promptly.
• Work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, consistently meeting daily production goals and adapting to changing priorities.
• Navigate uneven terrain across a large site, walking and operating equipment over extensive areas safely and confidently.
• Follow all site safety rules, including proper use of personal protective equipment and adherence to construction and solar industry best practices.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience operating specialized solar construction equipment such as PD-10 Vermeer pile drivers and Turchi pile driving equipment.
• Experience as a solar equipment operator, including familiarity with PV racking, PV modules, and inverter installation support.
• Comfort working around underground electrical feeders, DC trenching and backfill, AC trenching and backfill, and related electrical infrastructure.
• Exposure to commissioning activities on construction or solar projects.
• Experience supporting earthwork, site clearing, steel pile installation, and site maintenance tasks.
• Ability to adapt to a wide range of task codes and work scopes, from general requirements and site maintenance to electrical and racking activities.

Why Work Here?

You will join a dynamic construction environment where teamwork, safety, and productivity are highly valued. The role offers the opportunity to work on large-scale solar projects that contribute to renewable energy development, providing varied and challenging work each day. You will gain broad exposure to solar construction processes, from earthwork and racking to electrical and commissioning activities, enabling you to build valuable skills and experience in a growing industry.

Work Environment

The position is based on a non-residential construction site, working entirely outdoors on a large solar project spanning thousands of acres. You will work in varying and sometimes extreme temperature conditions, and must be comfortable handling weather-related challenges throughout the day. The terrain is very uneven, requiring confidence in walking and operating equipment across rough ground over long distances. The environment is fast paced, with clear daily production goals and performance expectations, so you should be prepared to work under pressure while maintaining safety and quality. You will work around heavy equipment, solar modules, racking systems, electrical trenches, inverters, and other solar infrastructure, following established construction and safety procedures.

This is a Contract position based out of San Antonio, TX.

The pay range for this position is $23.00 - $30.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in San Antonio,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 11, 2026.

About Aerotek

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.