Solar Field Deployment Engineer

Optivolt; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Unlimited PTO

Equity package

Job summary

Optivolt in San Francisco is seeking a Solar Field Deployment Engineer who owns prototypes and pilot deployments end-to-end, taking new technology from the lab into the field. You will lead testing and validation, install and commission systems, troubleshoot real-time deployments, and translate field data back to engineering for iterative improvements.

The role requires 4+ years hands-on hardware deployment experience, a foundational engineering background, and the ability to work with utility

Qualifications

• 4+ years hands-on engineering and hardware deployment experience.
• Strong foundation in power electronics, electrical engineering, or hardware systems integration.
• Experience leading field operations and pilot deployments.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary on-site technical owner for pilot deployments—select hardware, install, commission, and debug in real time.
• Prototype, instrument, and stress-test new designs from lab concept to field validation.
• Partner with large-scale solar developers on site design, integration, and deployment.
• Root-cause analysis on field failures and performance anomalies; translate findings to design improvements.
• Ensure installs meet safety codes, building standards, and company specifications; push technology boundaries.
• Author documentation, test protocols, and operational playbooks for scale.
• Build and continuously refine field playbooks for partner deployments; support test automation.

Skills

Field experience

Technical leadership

Engineering depth

Communication

Data & analytics

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

About Optivolt

Optiolt's mission is to overshoot humanity's energy supply by reimagining solar.

America is at an inflection point. We need reliable energy fast. The grid is aging. And solar, the only technology that deploys quickly enough, is still constrained by technology frozen in time.

To close this gap, we build intelligent solar systems that think and adapt to real world conditions. Optivolt solar systems understand the sun, the weather, shading, harsh conditions, and optimize energy flow in real time. Every Optivolt panel is designed with an aerospace power electronics brain sealed inside to make solar more powerful and cost effective than ever in any condition.

The next step is putting it everywhere. In the home as Optivolt Home Solar and in the field as Optivolt Solar Fields. Hyper performant, controllable, reliable solar that works for everyone, everywhere.

Our Team & Traction

Optivolt is a team of some of the best builders and doers in the world, drawing from incredible talent pools in aerospace, electrical engineering, design-led organizations. We ultimately will win by designing and building the world's best solar energy products.

But chiefly important, our organization is a lab for those devoted to solving some of the toughest problems in energy. Everyone is expected to contribute to the mission meaningfully. Clear communication, rapid iteration, and strong work ethic is the floor for anyone on our team.

To date we've shipped over 20,000 units and have companies worth billions of dollars relying on our solar architecture.

Why we are looking for you

As Optivolt's Solar Field Deployment Engineer, you are a hands-on electrical or computer engineer who owns prototypes and pilot deployments end-to-end. You take new technology from the lab into the field, deciding what hardware goes out, leading testing and validation, debugging real systems on site, and feeding hard-won data back to the engineering team.

You will be the tip of the spear for major datacenter and utility solar developers deploying pilot installations and integrating Optivolt and solar field-scale systems into their projects. You bring the engineering depth to prototype, instrument, and stress-test new designs under real-world conditions, plus the field ownership to install, commission, troubleshoot, and refine them until they perform.

You’ll shape training, documentation, and operational protocols for utility pilots while personally leading hands-on deployment, validation, testing, and evaluation of both current and prototype Optivolt systems in the field.
Another major portion of this role is supporting internal testing and test automation to help ensure deployments run smoothly. Ensuring success means taking charge on the full life cycle.

What you’ll do

• Serve as the primary on-site technical owner for pilot deployments—selecting and qualifying the hardware that goes into the field, leading installation and commissioning, and debugging real systems in real time.

• Prototype, instrument, and stress-test new designs under actual operating conditions; own the full loop from lab concept through field validation and iteration.

• Partner with large-scale utility solar developers on site design, system integration, and hands-on deployment of both production and experimental hardware.

• Perform root-cause analysis on field failures, performance anomalies, and pilot metrics; translate findings into concrete design and process improvements for the engineering team.

• Ensure every install meets safety codes, building standards, site best practices, and Optivolt specifications while pushing the boundaries of new technology.

• Act as Optivolt's technical authority on product installation and site integration—authoring documentation, test protocols, and operational playbooks that scale.

• Build and continuously refine the field playbook so utility partners experience best-in-class support as we move prototypes into reliable, repeatable deployments.

• Test, benchmark, and automate monitoring over the entire lifecycle of the deployment to ensure success and competitive advantage of the platform.

What we’re looking for

• Field or Technical Experience: 4+ years of hands-on experience in complex engineering and hardware project deployments - not managing from a desk. Proven track record with complex retrofits, advanced system integrations, testing, and troubleshooting under real-world conditions.

• Technical Leadership & Project Management: Demonstrated experience leading field operations, commissioning pilot deployments, or managing high-stakes technical projects from initial design through testing and execution while keeping teams coordinated under pressure.

• Technical Expertise: Strong foundational engineering background in power electronics, electrical engineering, electrical infrastructure, energy storage, or complex hardware systems integration. Ability to rapidly diagnose hardware, software, or site integration issues without relying on a manual.

• Communication & Stakeholder Management: Ability to translate complex technical concepts and field data seamlessly between engineering teams, external technicians, and project stakeholders. Self-driven and adaptable in ambiguous startup environments.

• Data & Technical Tools: Proficient in tracking metrics, running efficiency studies, and using data analysis tools, data loggers, or lab/field instrumentation to evaluate system performance and streamline pilot deployments.

• Travel: Travel required.

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent technical field experience.

Preferred skills

• Credentials: NABCEP certification, electrical trade license, or PE is a plus.

• Solar Industry Experience: Experience in solar, particularly utility-scale solar project deployments or utility solar installations.

• Hardware, electrical engineering, computer engineering

Additional requirements

• Willingness to work extended hours as needed to support critical milestones

• Everyone at Optivolt is required to participate in on call support for customers

• Must be based in San Francisco, CA

Pay and benefits

The estimated starting base salary range for this role is $130K-180K depending on level, location and experience, plus a generous pre-IPO equity package

Other benefits include comprehensive health coverage, unlimited PTO, plus extra fun perks!