Lead Field Service Technician III - Solar

Lead Field Service Technician III- SolarWORK ARRANGEMENT: ON-SITE, FIELD-BASED. THIS IS NOT A REMOTE OR WORK-FROM-HOME JOB.This role is performed in person, outdoors, on solar sites in and around St. Cloud, Minnesota. You'll drive from your home to job sites rather than reporting to an office — but you must live in the St. Cloud region, or relocate there before your start date.You may see this listed as "field-based." That means you drive from your home to job sites rather than reporting to an office each morning. It does not mean you can work from another city or state. Applications from candidates who are not located in — or actively relocating to — the St. Cloud area cannot be considered for this posting.Territory: (30–90 minutes typical, rarely over 3 hours). Overnight travel: (under 10%). Schedule: (M–F, 7am–3pm or 8am–4pm). On-call: (rotational Saturday 8am–12pm). Overtime: (paid biweekly; 40–45 hours typical; 1.5x over 40).MASTER ELECTRICIANS: NO PRIOR SOLAR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. WE WILL TRAIN YOU.Energy Support Services keeps solar and energy storage systems safe, reliable, and producing clean power. As a Lead Field Service Technician III- Solar, you'll be the technical authority in the field — leading complex inspections, troubleshooting, and repairs, owning your sites, shaping how the work gets done, and mentoring the technicians coming up behind you. There's a defined pathway to Technician IV.The license and the electrical judgment are what we can't teach quickly. Photovoltaics we can. If you hold an active Minnesota Master Electrician license, we will consider you fully with zero solar background.Relocation note: We offer a $3,000 sign-on bonus and relocation assistance to qualified candidates. If you're a licensed Master Electrician somewhere else in the country and you've been curious about renewable energy, this is the posting to look at.COMING FROM ANOTHER SIDE OF THE ELECTRICAL TRADE?This role requires a Master Electrician license because Minnesota law requires it for the electrical work involved. It does not require a solar background. Master Electricians join us from:Commercial and industrial electrical contracting — service work, troubleshooting, code compliance, and permitting. Nearly everything transfers; you'll learn PV-specific equipment and DC systems.Utility, generation, or substation work — medium-voltage practice, switching, and grounding discipline map directly onto solar plant work.Facilities, manufacturing, or plant electrical leadership — PM programs, LOTO systems, and crew oversight are the same skills we need here.Marine, military, or shipyard electrical — strong safety culture and independent judgment in the field, which is what this job runs on.What you'll learn on our dimePV system architecture — modules, strings, combiner boxes, inverters, and grid-tie behavior.Solar-specific diagnostics: I/V curve tracing, insulation resistance testing, and infrared thermography.FAA Part 107 drone certification for aerial thermal inspection.OSHA 30, NFPA 70E/70B, and our internal O&M Tech course series.PAY$92,000-115,000 annually, depending on experience and qualifications, plus a $3,000 sign-on bonus and relocation assistance for qualified candidates.WHAT WE OFFERTools and equipment: provided. Company truck, company fuel/credit card, and vehicle maintenance card. You will never spend your own money on tools here — no tool truck payment, no tool debt.Bonus: Up to an 8% performance bonus, paid annually.Apparel: Company-provided PPE and flame-resistant clothing kit (bibs, jackets, pants, shirts) at no cost to you.Health: Medical, dental, and vision. We pay 80% of your health insurance premiums.Retirement: 401(k) with up to a 7.5% company match.Time off: PTO accrued each pay period — 120 hours/year (years 0–2), 160 hours (years 3–9), 200 hours (10+ years) — plus 11 paid holidays.Family: 8 weeks of paid parental leave.Insurance: Company-paid Life and AD&D insurance at 1x your annual salary.Certifications — we pay, you keep them: OSHA 10/30, NFPA 70E/70B, FAA Part 107 (drone), and our internal O&M Tech course series. These certifications stay with you for the rest of your career.Advancement: A published Field Tech Development Pathway with defined progression to Technician IV. You move up on demonstrated capability, not on how long you've been here.Education: Tuition reimbursement up to $10,000 per year for approved programs.WHAT YOU'LL DOSafetyEnsure all work is performed in accordance with safety policies and procedures.Verify the correct PPE is available and being used properly.Create Personal Lockout/Tagout (PLOTO) and switching lockout plans for approval.Act as work leader for Pre-Job Briefs, Job Safety Analysis, personal LOTO, and switch-plan LOTO.Inspections and preventative maintenanceLead comprehensive inspections of solar power plants.Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs for your sites.Supervise and train junior technicians on inspection and maintenance procedures.TroubleshootingDiagnose and resolve complex system issues, including grid integration and communications faults.Use advanced diagnostic tools and software to address system performance problems.Develop and implement corrective action plans.DocumentationCreate and maintain comprehensive documentation of inspections, maintenance, and repairs.Prepare technical reports and presentations for management.Provide oversight and direction on work order documentation to junior technicians.Leadership and knowledgeStay current on industry trends and emerging technology.Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior technicians.Contribute to the development of training materials and procedures.Other duties as assigned.WHAT YOU NEEDRequiredActive Minnesota Master Electrician license — or an active Master Electrician license in another state that you can convert to a Minnesota license before your start date. We'll help you navigate the process.The licensed electrical experience your Master license reflects, plus a demonstrated ability to lead work in the field.Proficient knowledge of electrical systems and the ability to read and interpret complex electrical schematics and engineering drawings.Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor technicians in the field.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.Valid driver's license and clean driving record.Helpful, but not required — we train and certify youSolar industry or grid-tied PV experience. Master Electricians are considered fully without it.Associate's degree in electrical engineering or a related field.OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E certifications — we pay for these.FAA Part 107 certification — we pay for this too.Experience with I/V curve tracers, megohmmeters, and insulation testers, or comparable instruments from other electrical work.PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS