O&M Service Technician - Commercial

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 San Diego County or Riverside County.

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.

Team Building & Culture

• Embody and promote the Cal Solar core values and demonstrate those values in interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
• Foster open communication, team building, and sharing of best practices amongst all employees, to help create a continuous learning environment that drives team knowledge & preparedness.
• Encourage employees to take an active role and be accountable for their career growth.
• Continually evaluate Cx and O&M processes, finding new means and methods (out-of-the-box thinking) & share best practices to help increase safety, profitability, quality, efficiency, etc. that can be captured within Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Support the Field Training Manager by rigorously promoting high-quality standards that are consistently utilized by all, while also proactively working to help refine/improve these standards.
• Support efforts to recruit and hire field employees that fit our core values and safety/quality culture.
• Champion Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action Programs.

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.

About Cal Solar, Inc.

Passionate About Renewable Energy? Then we're looking for you!