Solar Operations Technician – Rutherford Solar
Job Description
Solar Operations Technician (SPC Rutherford)
JOB SUMMARY
Want an innovative challenge? Solar technology is rapidly developing in the traditional Southern Company footprint and here’s an opportunity to be a part of it. We are seeking strong technical individuals for Solar Operations Technician position for Southern Power’s Rutherford Farm solar facility in Rutherford County, North Carolina. This position will also support our Granville Solar Facility as needed in Granville, County, NC.
Rutherford Solar Facility – 74 megawatts
- The project is located on 489 acres in Rutherford County. Rutherford Farm consists of 289,104 fixed-tilt, monocrystalline solar panels manufactured by Trina Solar.
Granville Solar Facility – 2.5 megawatts
- The Granville Solar Facility is a 2.5-megawatt solar facility located on 40 acres of private land in Granville County, North Carolina. The 2.5-megawatt solar facility consists of poly crystalline photovoltaic solar modules manufactured by MEMC.
The responsibilities include operating and maintaining utility scale solar photovoltaic electric systems as well as monitoring, troubleshooting, and repairing the plant's electrical and mechanical equipment and various other duties. In addition, the successful candidates will maintain plant maintenance records in the computer-based work order system, Maximo®, and participate in the plant system owner program. The candidate will need to have the willingness to serve on any Operations Review Board (ORB) action teams when required. Shift work required, including nights.
This position will be filled at a level commensurate with experience.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
(Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills)
- HS Graduate or Equivalent
- 2-year College/Technical Degree or equivalent relevant work experience required
- Electrical background is highly preferred
- Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude and a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and repair electrical and mechanical equipment are required
- Solar Utility Scale Inverter maintenance experience preferred (i.e. Advanced Energy or SMA)
- Strong technical background in electrical and electronic devices and equipment - Instrumentation experience is a plus; PV and/or experience with inverters is desired
- Must be a self-starter with the ability to work with little to no direction as well as possess an ability to follow directions when required.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to apply principle of logical thinking and deal with situations that will be encountered.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills are required.
- Must be able to learn how to independently operate a solar plant and communicate effectively with plant stakeholders.
- Ability to perform physically demanding activities (i.e. climbing stairs and ladders, lifting heavy equipment) while working safely in all types of weather.
- The successful candidate will be expected to support multiple solar sites at times. This support will require overnight travel for multiple days at times.
- Travel may be up to 25% of the time. Overnight travel for multiple days will be required for training, site support, company meetings, etc. Some travel will be across multiple state requiring travel by flight.
Relocation assistance may be available for this position.
Practice Test Many of our tests have practice tests available; there is one available for the TECH test. Logon to: https://secure.eei.org/eeitests/onlineproducts/
Use the following information to log into the site to access the practice test:
- Name: southern
- Password: testing
Practice tests: TECH - Technician Occupations
Solar Operations Technician (SPC Rutherford)
JOB SUMMARY
Want an innovative challenge? Solar technology is rapidly developing in the traditional Southern Company footprint and here’s an opportunity to be a part of it. We are seeking strong technical individuals for Solar Operations Technician position for Southern Power’s Rutherford Farm solar facility in Rutherford County, North Carolina. This position will also support our Granville Solar Facility as needed in Granville, County, NC.
Rutherford Solar Facility – 74 megawatts
- The project is located on 489 acres in Rutherford County. Rutherford Farm consists of 289,104 fixed-tilt, monocrystalline solar panels manufactured by Trina Solar.
Granville Solar Facility – 2.5 megawatts
- The Granville Solar Facility is a 2.5-megawatt solar facility located on 40 acres of private land in Granville County, North Carolina. The 2.5-megawatt solar facility consists of poly crystalline photovoltaic solar modules manufactured by MEMC.
The responsibilities include operating and maintaining utility scale solar photovoltaic electric systems as well as monitoring, troubleshooting, and repairing the plant's electrical and mechanical equipment and various other duties. In addition, the successful candidates will maintain plant maintenance records in the computer-based work order system, Maximo®, and participate in the plant system owner program. The candidate will need to have the willingness to serve on any Operations Review Board (ORB) action teams when required. Shift work required, including nights.
This position will be filled at a level commensurate with experience.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
(Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills)
- HS Graduate or Equivalent
- 2-year College/Technical Degree or equivalent relevant work experience required
- Electrical background is highly preferred
- Strong mechanical and electrical aptitude and a demonstrated ability to troubleshoot and repair electrical and mechanical equipment are required
- Solar Utility Scale Inverter maintenance experience preferred (i.e. Advanced Energy or SMA)
- Strong technical background in electrical and electronic devices and equipment - Instrumentation experience is a plus; PV and/or experience with inverters is desired
- Must be a self-starter with the ability to work with little to no direction as well as possess an ability to follow directions when required.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to apply principle of logical thinking and deal with situations that will be encountered.
- Excellent communication and problem-solving skills are required.
- Must be able to learn how to independently operate a solar plant and communicate effectively with plant stakeholders.
- Ability to perform physically demanding activities (i.e. climbing stairs and ladders, lifting heavy equipment) while working safely in all types of weather.
- The successful candidate will be expected to support multiple solar sites at times. This support will require overnight travel for multiple days at times.
- Travel may be up to 25% of the time. Overnight travel for multiple days will be required for training, site support, company meetings, etc. Some travel will be across multiple state requiring travel by flight.
Relocation assistance may be available for this position.
Practice Test Many of our tests have practice tests available; there is one available for the TECH test. Logon to: https://secure.eei.org/eeitests/onlineproducts/
Use the following information to log into the site to access the practice test:
- Name: southern
- Password: testing
Practice tests: TECH - Technician Occupations
About Southern Company
Southern Company is one of the largest energy providers in the United States. Based in Atlanta, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications.
The men and women who work at Southern Company understand that we don’t simply provide a product or service. Clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy is essential to our way of life. More than 100 years ago, our company played a major role in the growth and prosperity of the South – and we continue to play a role today through our support of economic development and our philanthropic efforts. We believe the communities we serve should be better off because we’re there.
Our principal business is to make, move and sell energy. Those are the “whats” of our business. But it’s the “hows” that make us different. The actions of our employees are what truly define us and have earned us a high level of trust among our customers, shareholders and regulators.
