Lead Field Service Technician III – Solar

Work Arrangement

This is an on-site, field-based role performed outdoors on solar sites in and around El Paso, Texas. You drive from your home to job sites rather than reporting to an office; you must live in the El Paso region or relocate there before your start date. Territory is typically 30–90 minutes from El Paso, rarely over 3 hours. Overnight travel is under 10%.

Schedule

Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:00 PM or 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. On-call rotation includes Saturdays 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. Overtime is paid biweekly; typical schedule is 40–45 hours with 1.5× pay for hours over 40.

About the role

As a Lead Field Service Technician III – Solar, you serve as the technical authority in the field, leading complex inspections, troubleshooting, repairs, owning your sites, shaping how the work gets done, and mentoring technicians coming up behind you. There is a defined pathway to Technician IV. Master Electricians with no prior solar experience are welcome; photovoltaics are trainable while electrical judgment and licensure are not.

If you hold an active Minnesota Master Electrician license, you are considered fully qualified with zero solar background. Relocation assistance and a $3,000 sign-on bonus are available to qualified candidates.

Who should apply

This role requires a Master Electrician license because Minnesota law requires it for the electrical work involved; solar background is not required. Master Electricians join from backgrounds including:

• Commercial and industrial electrical contracting — service work, troubleshooting, code compliance, and permitting
• Utility, generation, or substation work — medium-voltage practice, switching, and grounding discipline
• Facilities, manufacturing, or plant electrical leadership — PM programs, LOTO systems, and crew oversight
• Marine, military, or shipyard electrical — strong safety culture and independent field judgment

What you’ll learn on our dime

• PV system architecture — modules, strings, combiner boxes, inverters, and grid-tie behavior
• Solar-specific diagnostics: I/V curve tracing, insulation resistance testing, and infrared thermography
• FAA Part 107 drone certification for aerial thermal inspection
• OSHA 30, NFPA 70E/70B, and internal O&M Tech course series

Responsibilities

• Safety: Ensure all work is performed in accordance with safety policies and procedures; verify correct PPE use; create and approve Personal Lockout/Tagout and switching lockout plans; lead Pre-Job Briefs, Job Safety Analysis, and LOTO execution.
• Inspections and preventative maintenance: Lead comprehensive inspections of solar power plants; develop and implement PM programs; supervise and train junior technicians on inspection and maintenance procedures.
• Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex system issues including grid integration and communications faults; use advanced diagnostic tools and software; develop and implement corrective action plans.
• Documentation: Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of inspections, maintenance, and repairs; prepare technical reports and presentations for management; provide oversight and direction on work order documentation to junior technicians.
• Leadership and knowledge: Stay current on industry trends and emerging technology; provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior technicians; contribute to development of training materials and procedures.

Requirements

• Active Texas Master Electrician license — or an active Master Electrician license in another state that you can convert to a Minnesota license before your start date (company assistance provided).
• The licensed electrical experience your Master license reflects, plus a demonstrated ability to lead work in the field.
• Proficient knowledge of electrical systems and ability to read and interpret complex electrical schematics and engineering drawings.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor technicians in the field.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Helpful qualifications

• Solar industry or grid-tied PV experience (not required; Master Electricians are considered fully without it).
• Associate’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field.
• OSHA 30 and NFPA 70E certifications.
• FAA Part 107 certification.
• Experience with I/V curve tracers, megohmmeters, and insulation testers, or comparable instruments from other electrical work.

Physical requirements

• Drive safely and confidently.
• Stand for long periods and walk up to three miles per day.
• Navigate ladders, stairs, scaffolding, and ramps while maintaining three points of contact.
• Maintain visual acuity for depth perception, no field-of-vision issues, and ability to distinguish colors.
• Work comfortably in extreme heat (above 100°F) or cold (below 32°F) for periods exceeding one hour.
• Exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 30 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly.

Pay

$92,000–$115,000 annually depending on experience and qualifications, plus a $3,000 sign-on bonus and relocation assistance for qualified candidates.

Benefits

• Tools and equipment provided; company truck, fuel/credit card, and vehicle maintenance card.
• Up to an 8% annual performance bonus.
• Company-provided PPE and flame-resistant clothing kit (bibs, jackets, pants, shirts) at no cost.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with company paying 80% of premiums.
• 401(k) with up to a 7.5% company match.
• PTO accrued each pay period: 120 hours/year (years 0–2), 160 hours (years 3–9), 200 hours (10+ years), plus 11 paid holidays.
• 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Company-paid Life and AD&D insurance at 1× annual salary.
• Company pays and you keep: OSHA 10/30, NFPA 70E/70B, FAA Part 107 (drone), and internal O&M Tech course series.
• Published Field Tech Development Pathway with defined progression to Technician IV based on demonstrated capability.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $10,000 per year for approved programs.