Solar Tech II

EDP Renewables; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

EDP Renewables North America is a leading renewable energy company operating solar parks in the Mojave region. The role is on-site, full-time, hourly, non-exempt at Sandrini Solar Park in Bakersfield, CA, focusing on on-site operations and safe repair of solar field equipment.

Responsibilities include inspecting equipment, troubleshooting electrical/mechanical issues, preventive maintenance per OEM manuals, and coordinating with the Remote Operations Control Center as needed.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of college or technical school education or equivalent training/experience.
• 2–5 years of relevant solar energy experience is a plus.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office, SQL Server, reporting systems and diagnostic tools.
• Familiarity with maintenance & electronic testing equipment and heavy equipment.
• Experience with power plant operations and high-voltage concepts preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure proper operation and maintenance of solar field equipment and related plant components.
• Read schematics to troubleshoot mechanical and electrical issues.
• Perform mechanical and electrical repairs per OEM requirements.
• Document work via SAP and report on performance.
• Supervise contractors on site and ensure safety compliance.

Skills

Microsoft Office

SQL Server

Facility management

Reporting systems

Diagnostic and troubleshooting tools

Education

Some college or technical school

Tools

Voltage testers

Amp clamps

Oscilloscopes

Megohmmeters

Infrared testers

Torque equipment

Alignment tools

Crane and rigging

Job description

EDP Renewables is a global leader in the renewable energy sector and currently operates in more than 25 markets. With eight offices and several sites, at EDP Renewables North America, we are experienced developers and operators of renewable energy. Our portfolio includes wind farms, solar parks, energy storage projects, and green hydrogen solutions throughout the continent. We are ranked among the top 5 in the U.S. in operational renewable energy capacity.

Our company is part of EDP, a global energy group present in around 30 markets with a particular emphasis on renewable energies. With more than 45 years of experience, we have been consolidating a relevant presence on the world energy scene based on the commitment to be all-green by 2030, leading the energy transition. With more than 13,000 employees around the world, we are committed to using our energy and heart to drive a better tomorrow.

What you will do

Role Overview:

Responsible for the on-site operations, maintenance, repairs, and replacement of solar field equipment at EDPR NA’s operating solar‑energy generation site. To include but not limited to completing Lock out Tag out (LOTO), Tail Board meetings, and job‑specific documentation that is required to conduct solar turbine maintenance in the safest manner possible. Perform inspections of equipment, tools, and facility for compliance with EDPR policy and Governmental Safety and Environmental regulations. This person must be a self‑motivated, self‑starter that has the ability to work alone safely. Will require travel from the Mojave area to the Lucerne valley regularly.

Main responsibilities:

-Ensure proper operation and maintenance of solar field equipment and associated solar plant components, including inverters, tracker systems, transformers, substations, and switchgear
-Proactively look for improvement opportunities to job‑appropriate processes and procedures and communicate through appropriate channels or implement improvements using the appropriate control management protocol
-Read schematics in order to troubleshoot complicated mechanical, and electrical, problems with investors, tracker control systems, PV panels, and components
-Perform mechanical and electrical component repair and replacement of parts to correct malfunctions in accordance with all pertinent manufacturers' requirements
-Effectively gather information regarding solar performance/issues
-Diagnose, recommend, and implement solutions up to intermediate routine issues
-Seek assistance when encountering?issues outside the trained skill level to ensure success in the resolution
-Comply with all pertinent environmental health and safety programs
-Act as a safety role model; encourage and recognize others completing safe acts and intervene when unsafe acts are being practiced
-Identify gaps in safety standards as well as safety risks in the environment
-Implement effective risk mitigation and provide recommendations to higher‑level technical staff and management
-Promote integrity, strong initiative, and a no‑compromise focus on safety and quality of work on a continuous basis
-Perform preventive maintenance in accordance with OEM maintenance manuals
-Perform data collection and prepare reports in order to meet reporting requirements
-Work with and respond to EDPRs Remote Operations Control Center when necessary
-Perform QA/QC inspections in accordance with applicable SOP
-Ensure that reliable electronic communication is maintained between the solar field, substation, site office, and home office
-Facilitate periodic equipment inspections and reporting
-Document all work performed using computer‑based service reporting procedures (SAP)
-Adhere to effective internal controls
-Supervise contractors on site to ensure compliance with all EDPR’s policies and procedures
-Additional duties as required

Employment type

Full Time

Hourly, Non-Exempt

On Site

Work site

Sandrini Solar Park

Bakersfield, CA

What are we looking for

Minimum Requirements:

• 1+ years of college or technical school education, or an equivalent combination of training and experience
• 2 – 5 years relevant experience in solar energy or a related industry, Renewable energy experience is a plus
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office software, SQL Server software, facility management, and reporting systems, and computerized diagnostic and troubleshooting tools.
• Familiarity with maintenance and electronic testing equipment ?(e.g., voltage testers, amp clamps, oscilloscopes, megohmmeters, infrared testers, torque equipment, alignment tools, and various hand, and power tools) and with heavy equipment required for facility maintenance, including working knowledge of crane and rigging requirements
• Experience with power plant operations and maintenance, solar plant operations, (including power inverters specifically), high-voltage switching, and post‑operational repair and maintenance of solar field components (preferred)
• Understanding of Microsoft products and/or complementing products.? (Preferred)
• Competency in Analytical Problem Solving, Strong Communication,?Customer/Partner Relationships, and Technology Expertise. (Preferred).

Travel:

Minimal, as needed.

Behavioral Requirements:

• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and possession of a valid driver’s license
• Ability to work around low- and medium-voltage equipment
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
• Ability and willingness to travel occasionally to other operational sites within the US as needed
• Ability and willingness to work overtime on holidays and weekends and to work on short notice as needed due to on‑call scheduling
• Ability and willingness to respond to site emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as needed

Physical demands & working conditions:

• Sitting/Standing/Flexibility: Ability to frequently perform physical tasks including standing, sitting, walking, kneeling, bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching approximately 75% of the time while on sites; ability to stand and sit for 8 or more hours when in an office environment
• Walking:? Ability to walk .25 to .5 miles per day, including across unpaved and rough surfaces when on sites
• Speech/Reading:? Ability to speak, read, and write English proficiently and deliver a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or scheduled form
• Lifting: Ability to frequently lift items weighing up to 50 pounds
• Climbing: ?Weight, including harness and tools, must be in accordance with the weight limit as specified by the ANSI Fall Protection Standards
• Vision/Hearing: Ability to interpret and follow a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form
• Tolerance to Extreme Weather Conditions: Ability to work in adverse weather conditions 25% of the time while on solar farm sites
• Safety: Ability to understand and communicate safety precautions when necessary

More than academic knowledge and technical skills, we are looking for ambitious people who are enthusiastic about the future and who bring human skills aligned with our purpose.

Equal opportunities for all
Our vision is that each person combines their unique characteristics and experiences to fulfill our mission of creating new energy for the planet. We are an inclusive employer, ensuring all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process. We welcome and value all people, and we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging for each person who is part of the EDP group.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. EDP makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. For further information, please review this notice from the Department of Labor: EEO is the Law poster (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster). You may have additional rights pursuant to recent amendments to federal labor laws. Please review these protections from the EEO is the Law Supplement (https://www.eeoc.gov).

Salary hiring range: $54,480-$68,100 Our salary ranges are based on paying competitively for our size and industry and are one part of many compensation, benefits, and other reward opportunities we provide. Individual pay rate decisions are based on several factors, including qualifications for the role, experience level, skillset, and balancing internal equity relative to peers at the company. We expect most of the candidates who are offered roles at our company to fall healthily throughout the range based on these factors.

The range above is for the expectations as laid out in the job description. However, we are often open to a wide variety of profiles and recognize that the person we hire may be less experienced (or more senior) than this job description as posted. If that ends up being the case, the updated salary range will be communicated to you as a candidate. The salary range above is for the posting location specified. As a company, we have a location-based strategy, which means the salary range could be lower or higher than this if the role is hired in another location.