Solutions Engineer - Solar (m/w/d)

Job Description

As Solutions Engineer, Solar, on NRG's Solar Project Team, you are the technical authority behind the deployment, commissioning, and lifecycle support of Solar Resource Monitoring (SRM) and Solar Resource Assessment (SRA) stations for utility-scale solar projects. You set the technical bar for how NRG delivers these projects - translating customer requirements into sound technical solutions, guiding field technicians and subcontractors through complex installations remotely, and serving as the escalation point when issues need expert resolution.

This is a senior individual-contributor role and a primarily remote-support position. You partner closely with Project Managers, Tech Services, Engineering, Sales, and Production, and you work directly with customers, EPCs, SCADA integrators, and installation subcontractors to keep projects moving. Field technicians handle the on-site execution; you provide the technical expertise that makes their work successful - answering questions in real time, troubleshooting remotely, and stepping in on site when an issue truly requires it.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the technical lead and primary technical point of contact across SRM and SRA projects, supporting Project Managers, customers, and field teams from kickoff through commissioning and into operations.
• Set and uphold technical standards for Solar Resource Assessment (SRA) and Solar Resource Monitoring (SRM) station installations, including configuration, wiring, communications, and SCADA/data integration.
• Review engineering drawings, datasheets, and installation documentation for technical accuracy, constructability, and alignment with customer specifications.
• Act as the escalation point for complex technical issues that cannot be resolved at the project management or field-technician level, working with Engineering and Tech Services to drive resolution.

Customer & Subcontractor Engagement

• Lead technical discussions with customers, EPCs, developers, and SCADA integrators during project kickoff, design review, site readiness, and commissioning.
• Translate customer technical requirements into clear specifications, configurations, and installation plans for internal teams and subcontractors.
• Provide technical guidance and training to installation subcontractors and field technicians; vet subcontractor technical capability and readiness in coordination with the Manager of Field Operation.
• Respond to RFIs, technical inquiries, and post-commissioning questions with clear, actionable answers.

Installation, Commissioning & Quality

• Maintain deep, hands-on proficiency in datalogger programming and configuration across NRG and third-party systems, sufficient to guide field teams through programming, troubleshooting, and on-the-fly changes during installation and commissioning.
• Lead the technical side of cold and hot commissioning activities - primarily remotely - including verification of sensor outputs, datalogger programming, and SCADA/data delivery to the customer.
• Provide remote technical support to field technicians, installers, and subcontractors throughout installation and commissioning; travel to site when an issue genuinely requires hands-on expert presence.
• Conduct quality reviews of completed installations: site checkout forms, photos of completed work and data outputs.
• Work with our technical support and product team to develop and maintain installation work instructions, commissioning checklists, and troubleshooting playbooks used across the Solar Project Team.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Tech Services on warranty support, RMA decisions, and the triage and escalation of post-commissioning issues.
• Work with Engineering and Product Management to feed field learnings back into product improvements, firmware updates, and documentation.
• Support Sales on technical pre-sales conversations, scoping calls, and bid responses for solar opportunities.
• Coordinate with Production and Operations on equipment readiness, lead times, and configuration requirements.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify recurring technical issues and drive improvements to NRG's solar product offerings, installation practices, and internal processes.
• Mentor Project Managers and field technicians, raising the technical capability of the broader team.
• Capture and share technical lessons learned, contributing to NRG's knowledge base in Confluence and related tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Renewable Energy, or a related technical field (equivalent experience considered).
• 5+ years of hands-on technical experience with meteorological monitoring stations, dataloggers, or instrumentation systems - renewable energy industry experience strongly preferred.
• Deep familiarity with NRG and third-party datalogger and sensor systems used in SRM and SRA applications, including configuration, wiring, and communications.
• Working knowledge of SCADA integration, common industrial protocols, and the data-delivery requirements of utility-scale solar plants.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical conversations with customers, EPCs, and subcontractors, and to translate technical detail for non-technical audiences.
• Strong remote troubleshooting skills, including the ability to diagnose instrumentation, power, and communications issues over the phone, on video, and through log review - with the field judgment to know when an in-person visit is warranted.
• Excellent technical writing skills, with a track record of producing clear installation guides, commissioning procedures, and customer-facing documentation.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (Salesforce, TaskRay, Trello, Confluence).
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable acting as a technical authority - confident making decisions, owning recommendations, and pushing back when something isn't right.
• Comfortable working in a primarily remote-support capacity, with willingness to travel up to 20% annually - occasionally on short notice - for site support, commissioning escalations, and customer engagements.
• A collaborative mindset and a sense of humor - essential for thriving on a tight-knit team and through tight deadlines.

Compensation Range - $110,000 - $135,000