Solar Energy Systems Engineers

Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.

Most important skills

Reading Comprehension
Critical Thinking
Writing
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving
Active Listening
Mathematics
Judgment and Decision Making

Key knowledge

Engineering and Technology
Design
Building and Construction
Mathematics
Mechanical
Computers and Electronics
Physics
Administration and Management

What the work involves

Review specifications and recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives.
Perform thermal, stress, or cost reduction analyses for solar systems.
Develop standard operation procedures and quality or safety standards for solar installation work.
Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.
Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency.
Develop design specifications and functional requirements for residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems or components.
Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Realistic, Investigative, Conventional.

Qualifications and licensing

Most common education: Bachelor's Degree (55.6% of respondents)
Related experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (39.3%)
On-the-job training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months (32.1%)
Preparation level: O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Licensing: Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.

Check before planning

Licensing for Solar Energy Systems Engineers is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Projection education uses SOC 17-2199 (detailed_parent); it may describe a broader group.

Limits

Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0

Work environment

How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).

Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.

Rankings compare typical U.S. occupation-level work conditions; individual jobs and employers vary. Data: O*NET 31.0 Work Context and BLS wages (May 2025).
Condition	Level	Compared with other occupations	Most common answer (O*NET survey)
Contact with others	Low	Lower on contact with others than 69% of occupations compared	43% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others”
Dealing with the public	Moderate	Higher on dealing with the public than 54% of occupations compared	29% of surveyed respondents chose “Important”
Teamwork	Moderate	Lower on teamwork than 53% of occupations compared	50% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important”
Freedom to make decisions	Low	Lower on freedom to make decisions than 72% of occupations compared	57% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom”
Time pressure	Moderate	Higher on time pressure than 52% of occupations compared	68% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day”
Conflict situations	Moderate	Higher on conflict situations than 54% of occupations compared	39% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people	Low	Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 67% of occupations compared	57% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month”
Consequence of error	High	Higher on consequence of error than 79% of occupations compared	32% of surveyed respondents chose “Very serious”

Work-pressure profile

Time pressure: moderate
Conflict situations: moderate
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: low
Consequence of error: high

Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.

Full answer distributions