Skip to main content
McCarthy Search

Lead Field Service Technician - PV/BESS

L5

ppsSacramento, CAyesterday

Occupations

Solar Photovoltaic InstallersSolar Energy Installation ManagersInstallation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other

Industries

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation ContractorsOther Building Equipment ContractorsSolar Electric Power Generation
Job Description: Lead PV / BESS Master Technician Commercial Solar | Utility-Scale Solar | Battery Energy Storage | Commissioning | O&MLocation: Multiple Sites / Regional Travel Required
Job Type: Full-Time
Level: Senior / Lead / Field Authority
Job Summary: We are hiring a Lead PV / BESS Master Technician with proven field authority, advanced troubleshooting capability, and the ability to lead commissioning and service execution on complex renewable energy systems. This position is built for a high-level field professional who can own technical performance from installation turnover through energization, commissioning, troubleshooting, remediation, and long-term operational reliability. This is not an entry-level role. This is not a helper position. This is not a role for candidates who require step-by-step instruction. We are looking for the technician who gets called when systems will not commission, performance is off target, communication networks fail, punch lists stall, or energization is at risk.
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Serve as the technical field lead for solar PV and BESS commissioning, service, troubleshooting, corrective maintenance, and remediation
  • Lead field crews, direct technical workflow, and enforce workmanship standards
  • Execute cold commissioning, hot commissioning, functional testing, startup, energization, and performance verification
  • Troubleshoot live DC and AC electrical systems under field conditions
  • Diagnose and resolve inverter faults, production losses, communication failures, protection issues, and control integration problems
  • Validate installation quality against drawings, single-line diagrams, OEM documentation, and commissioning procedures
  • Interface directly with owners, utilities, AHJs, EPCs, OEMs, engineers, and commissioning authorities
  • Produce detailed turnover packages, commissioning reports, punch lists, corrective action reports, and deficiency documentation
  • Support project closeout, warranty investigations, recommissioning, and operational performance optimizationPV Master Technician — Required Technical CompetenciesPV System Architecture
  • Advanced knowledge of commercial and utility-scale PV systems
  • Full understanding of:
  • String inverter systems
  • Central inverter systemsMLPE systemsDC collection systemsAC collection systemstransformer and switchgear integrationprotection and interconnection architecture
  • Advanced Electrical Troubleshooting
  • Must be capable of independently diagnosing:
  • Ground faults
  • Arc faults
  • Insulation resistance failures
  • Current mismatch
  • Voltage imbalance
  • String underperformanceclipping and curtailment issuesfailed terminationspolarity errorsnuisance tripscommunication lossintermittent production faults
  • Test Equipment Proficiency
  • Must have hands-on field experience with:
  • Digital multimeters
  • Clamp metersIV curve tracers
  • Insulation resistance testers (Megger)
  • Thermal imaging camerascontinuity and polarity testing equipmenttorque verification tools
  • Must be able to interpret test data, not simply perform the tests.
  • Inverters / Power Conversion
  • Hands-on commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and service experience with:string inverterscentral invertersmicroinvertersDC optimizers
  • Required abilities:fault code diagnosticsfirmware upgradesparameter configurationprotection verificationgrid support function setupinverter replacement and recommissioning
  • Monitoring / SCADA / Communications
  • Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting:
  • Ethernet networksfiber communicationscellular gatewaysRS-485 Modbus TCPModbus RTUremote monitoring platformsdata acquisition systemsinverter telemetry validationcommunications fault isolation
  • Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
  • Required Working Knowledge
  • Candidates with strong BESS field experience are strongly preferred.
  • Must understand:
AC-coupled and DC-coupled architecturePCS (Power Conversion System)BMS (Battery Management System)EMS (Energy Management System)SCADA integrationbattery racks and containerized systemscontrol and protection interfacesfunctional startup logicfault isolation and safe shutdown proceduresBESS Commissioning Taskspre-functional inspectionstartup readiness verificationbattery communications verificationPCS commissioning supportalarm verificationsequence-of-operations testingfunctional control testingoperational verificationcapacity validation supporttroubleshooting communication and controls faults Growing utility-scale storage deployment is increasing demand for technicians who can support field energization, controls integration, commissioning documentation, and safe turnover. Safety & Compliance Must demonstrate working knowledge of: OSHANFPA 70ELockout / Tagoutarc-flash practicesfall protectionjob hazard analysisenergized work planningNEC Article 690NEC Article 705NEC Article 706basic familiarity with NFPA 855 and UL 9540 / 9540A preferred for storage systems Leadership Expectations The Lead PV / BESS Master Technician is expected to:lead crews in the fieldmentor junior techniciansidentify issues before they become delaysmaintain technical discipline during commissioningcommunicate clearly with field management and clientsmake sound technical decisions without escalationprotect schedule, quality, and system performance
Required Experience: 5+ years of hands-on commercial or utility-scale PV field experienceproven lead technician, commissioning technician, or senior service technician experiencedemonstrated success diagnosing live system failuresability to work independently under field pressureability to travel to project sites
Preferred Qualifications: NABCEP PV Installation ProfessionalNABCEP PV Commissioning & MaintenanceOSHA 10 / 30NFPA 70 Emanufacturer certifications:
  • SMASungrowSolarEdgeEnphaseTeslaFluencePowinSungrow storage platforms
  • What This Role Is NotNot entry-level
  • Not a helper role
  • Not a remote position
  • Not a training seat
  • If you need daily instruction to perform technical work, this role is not a fit.
  • Compensation & Opportunity
  • Competitive compensation based on experience
  • Leadership-level field responsibility
  • Exposure to complex commercial, utility-scale, and storage systems
  • Opportunity to work on high-value commissioning, startup, and O&M projects
  • The current U.S. solar market is facing a skilled labor shortage, especially for senior field and commissioning roles, which is pushing greater value toward technicians who can independently lead energization and turnover.
How to Apply: Submit your resume with:years of hands-on PV experiencesystem sizes worked oncommissioning experienceinverter platforms supportedBESS experienceexamples of major troubleshooting work personally completed Only candidates with proven field capability will be considered.
Apply now (opens in a new tab)
Apply now (opens in a new tab)

Level

SeniorL5

Location

Sacramento, CA

Occupation

Solar Photovoltaic Installers

Industry

Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors

Posted

yesterday

To get sharper similar jobs, create your profile using the link below.

Create profile