Solar PV Technician III

Solar PV Technician III
Location: Roseville / Sacramento, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time/On-Site
Reports to: Site Manager
Pay scale: $38.00 - $40.00 per hour

Clean Energy Services (CES) is an independent, execution-first operations and maintenance (O&M) provider purpose-built to support complex, utility-scale battery energy storage and hybrid assets. Our platform combines dedicated field teams, a 24/7 Remote Operations Center (ROC), and deep operating expertise to reduce operational risk, improve availability, and protect long-term asset value.

This is a large utility-scale solar plus battery storage plant north of Sacramento. The solar side is fixed-tilt racking with 1,500 VDC source circuits feeding string inverters and medium-voltage transformer skids, tied together by a direct-buried 34.5 kV collection system, with met stations across the array. CES runs a dedicated on-site team of PV and BESS technicians, supported 24/7 by our Remote Operations Center.

This is the senior technician seat on the solar side of the plant. You will take faults from first alarm through repair on your own, help the Site Manager plan the PM program, and help bring along the Tech I and Tech II technicians. It is one large plant close to home, with no rotation.

Job Description 

Preventive Maintenance

• Inspect and maintain string inverters, including heat sink, air inlet and outlet cleaning, and all manufacturer-recommended maintenance
• Inspect, test and torque LVAC switches, fuses and disconnects; find and repair loose electrical and ground connections
• Thermal imaging of inverter inputs, MV sectional cabinets and LVAC connections
• MV transformer visual inspections and dissolved gas sampling
• Clean pyranometers, and maintain met stations and their calibration schedule
• Inspect racking and make minor repairs; maintain wire management across the array

Troubleshooting & Corrective Maintenance

• Diagnose and repair ground faults, string-level DC faults and inverter alarms using a multimeter, megger, clamp meter and thermal camera
• Review string-level health data with the ROC and go find the underperformers in the field
• Remove and replace string inverters, and own warranty claim documentation with the OEM and the CES warranty team
• Respond to ROC-dispatched alarms and plant events
• Isolate equipment and support MV feeder outages with the site switching team

Site Support & Documentation

• Escort and oversee OEM and vendor crews, and check site conditions: inside-fence debris, vegetation height, roads and drainage
• Inspect SCADA, communications and network equipment in the field
• Track spare parts and consumables
• Produce a clear same-day field report: tasks completed, findings, parts used, follow-ups and hours

Team Support

• Help the Site Manager plan and sequence the weekly PM work
• Train Tech I and Tech II technicians on site and check their work
• CES technicians support each other across disciplines. Your core role is the solar plant. When your schedule permits, and for specific tasks that need additional support, you will assist the BESS technicians on site, within your training and qualifications
• Report daily to the Site Manager on work status, priorities and schedule
• Other duties as assigned by the Site Manager

Safety & Compliance

• Perform all work in accordance with NFPA 70E, OSHA, NEC / NESC and CES safety policies
• Conduct job hazard analyses and tailboards before work begins, and exercise stop-work authority any time a task cannot be completed safely
• Apply lockout/tagout on every job: isolate, lock and tag, test before touch, and ground where required
• Report all incidents, near-misses and unsafe conditions, and keep your training and certifications current

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on utility-scale solar O&M
• String inverter troubleshooting and replacement on 1,000 V or 1,500 VDC systems
• Ground fault and DC circuit troubleshooting at the string level, working without direct supervision
• Strong LOTO discipline, DC electrical safety and working knowledge of NFPA 70E
• Able to work safely around MV transformers and switching activity, under direction
• Reads single-lines, string maps, schematics and OEM manuals
• Writes a clean daily report and uses a laptop and CMMS or work order system without trouble
• Lives within about one hour of the Roseville / Sacramento area, or willing to relocate
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record; ability to pass background check and drug screen
• Physically able to lift up to 50 lbs, climb, work at heights, walk uneven ground and work outdoors in all weather

Preferred Qualifications

• California state certified electrician (General or equivalent) or electrical trainee card; journeyman electrician background
• OEM training on utility-scale string or central inverters
• NFPA 70E, OSHA 10 / 30, First Aid / CPR certifications already current
• 5+ years at utility scale, including time as the senior technician on a crew
• MV switching experience, or combined solar and BESS experience
• IR thermography certification; SCADA or data analysis experience
• U.S. military service; veterans are strongly encouraged to apply

Training & Development

CES provides OEM certification on the site equipment, and supports NFPA 70E, OSHA and First Aid / CPR where needed. You will also learn alongside the Site Manager and switchman, with exposure to battery storage and medium-voltage equipment on the same plant.

Schedule & Physical Requirements

• One local site with no rotation: on-site Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with a 30-minute meal period
• Shifts can adjust for outage work; available for evening, weekend and holiday response if needed
• Field environment including energized equipment and Sacramento Valley summer heat

What CES Offers

• Tools, arc-rated PPE and laptop
• Full CES benefits package (medical, dental, vision, 401(k) and PTO)
• Equipment and OEM training and certification
• Growth within a fast-scaling solar and energy storage O&M team

How to Apply

Apply through this posting with your current resume. Our team will reach out directly to schedule a call. Please do not visit or drive to any project site, and do not contact any site owner, operator or on-site personnel about this role.

Clean Energy Services (CES) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, CES complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

CES expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

To the extent permitted by law, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing.