About This Career

Assembles, installs, or maintains solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs or other structures in compliance with site assessment and schematics. May include measuring, cutting, assembling, and bolting structural framing and solar modules. May perform minor electrical work such as current checks.

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster Construction pathway.

A person in this career:

• Installs photovoltaic (PV) systems in accordance with codes and standards, using drawings, schematics, and instructions.
• Assembles solar modules, panels, or support structures, as specified.
• Applies weather sealing to array, building, or support mechanisms.
• Determines appropriate sizes, ratings, and locations for all system overcurrent devices, disconnect devices, grounding equipment, and surge suppression equipment.
• Installs module array interconnect wiring, implementing measures to disable arrays during installation.
• Identifies methods for laying out, orienting, and mounting modules or arrays to ensure efficient installation, electrical configuration, or system maintenance.
• Identifies electrical, environmental, and safety hazards associated with photovoltaic (PV) installations.
• Examines designs to determine current requirements for all parts of the photovoltaic (PV) system electrical circuit.
• Checks electrical installation for proper wiring, polarity, grounding, or integrity of terminations.
• Tests operating voltages to ensure operation within acceptable limits for power conditioning equipment, such as inverters and controllers.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 50 lbs., sometimes up to 100 lbs. You will need a lot of strength at this level.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
• Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time
• Work at heights above 8 feet more than once a month on structures such as ladders, poles, scaffolding, and catwalks

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Seeing clearly up close
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours