SustainWDN™

Explore Career Pathways

Entry-Level Jobs

Offshore Wind Turbine Technician

Entry-Level

Tasks / Responsibilities

Assist with the installation of offshore wind turbines
Inspect the exterior and physical interiors of the turbine towers and the equipment
Perform regular maintenance checks, and repairs on systems
Test and troubleshoot systems to make sure they function efficiently
Conduct routine inspections and identify any issues with the system

Work Experience

No prior experience necessary for entry-level positions.
Potential for on-the-job training

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent required
Associates degree or post secondary certification is preferred

Certificates & Degrees

Offshore Wind Power Technician Certificate, Certificate, Bristol Community College
https://catalog.bristolcc.edu/engineering/offshore-wind-power-technician-certificate
Offshore Wind Energy, Diploma, Maritime Training Academy
https://maritimetrainingacademy.com/courses/offshore-wind-energy/
Wind Turbine Training Program, La Guardia Community College
https://www.laguardia.edu/ce/career-skills-training/wind-turbine-technician-training-program/
Wind Turbine Technician, Diploma, Centura College
https://www.centuracollege.edu/skilled-trades/wind-turbine-technician-diploma/
Wind Energy Technology, Certificate, Framingdale State College
https://www.farmingdale.edu/resc/wind/
Wind Power Technology, Certificate, Northern Maine Community College
https://www.nmcc.edu/academics/programs/academic-programs/wind-power-technology/

Salary

$47,000 - $90,000 annually (varies by region and company).

Job Projections

Job outlook has been forecasted at 60% for the 2023-2033 period. Link
Increased demand for electricity and efforts to reduce carbon emissions are expected to result in more wind turbines being built. This, in turn, should create jobs for wind turbine service technicians to install and maintain these turbines.
By 2032, the global offshore wind energy market is forecasted to rise from the over $5 billion recorded in 2022 to over $31 billion. It's also expected that 100,000 offshore wind jobs will be created by 2030, with a core part of these roles coming in the form of offshore wind turbine technician jobs. Link

Local Businesses

Resources

Global Wind Organization
NYERSDA, Offshore Wind
WindExchange
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
American Clean Power
Tetra Tech
Support Offshore Wind
Green Jobs Network

Other Related Jobs

Solar PV Technician, Energy Efficiency Assistant, Junior Energy Analyst, Sustainability Coordinator, Green Building Technician, Energy Storage Technician, Renewable Energy Sales, Carbon Analyst, Geothermal Technicial, Project Coordinator, Project Assistant

Solar PV Technician

Entry-Level

Tasks / Responsibilities

Plan and install solar panel systems and related components on properties based on customer needs and site conditions
Connect PV panels to electrical systems
Perform regular maintenance checks, and repairs on PV systems
Test systems after installation to make sure they function efficiently
Conduct routine inspections and identify any issues with the system

Work Experience

No prior experience necessary for entry-level positions.
Potential for on-the-job training

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent required
Associates degree or certification is preferred

Certificates & Degrees

Solar PV Installation and Maintenance, Associate Degree and Certificate: Los Angeles Trade Technical College:
https://www.lattc.edu/academics/aos/renewable-energy-technician-solar-pv-installation
Solar Panel Installation, Training: California State University San Bernadino
https://careertraining.csusb.edu/training-programs/solar-panel-installer-training/
Solar Energy Technology, Associates Degree, Northeast WI Technical College
https://www.nwtc.edu/academics-and-training/solar-energy-technology
Solar Energy Technology, Associates: Texas State Technical College
https://www.tstc.edu/programs/solarenergytechnology/
PV Associate Technician, Course, Solairgen School of Solar Technology
https://solairgen.com/pv-job-ready-associate/
Solar Panel Installation Training, Course: SDSU Global Campus
https://globalcampus.sdsu.edu/explore/online-learning/featured-online-training-programs/online-solar-panel-installer-training/

Salary

$37,000-$73,000 annually (varies by region and company).

Job Projections

Job outlook has been forecasted at 48% for the 2023-2033 period. Link
PV installers may advance to become a project supervisor or project manager after gaining experience in the trade. PV installers may also transition to sales roles within the industry, given their knowledge of and experience with PV installation. They also may choose to start their own PV installation business.

Local Businesses

Resources

American Solar Workforce
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
The Solar Foundation
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Solar Energy International
Green Jobs Network

Other Related Jobs

Offshore Wind Turbine Technician, Energy Efficiency Assistant, Junior Energy Analyst, Sustainability Coordinator, Green Building Technician, Energy Storage Technician, Renewable Energy Sales, Carbon Analyst, Geothermal Technicial, Project Coordinator, Project Assistant

Mid-Level Jobs

Offshore Wind/Solar Farm Project Manager

Mid-Level

Tasks / Responsibilities

Oversee the planning, execution and successful completion of offshore wind/solar farm projects
Develop project plans, timelines and budgets
Ensure compliance with local, national and international standards
Coordinate with relevant stakeholders
Identify potential risks and identify strategies to mitigate these risks
Monitor progress and KPIs
Oversee any permits and assessments
Ensure documentation of the project is complete

Work Experience

4-7 years work experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction, Renewable Energy, Project Management, energy systems or related field
Certifications related to project management or renewable energy

Certificates & Degrees

Energy Systems Engineering B.S, Oregon State University
https://osucascades.edu/academics/energy-systems-engineering
Energy Systems Engineering B.S, Cal Poly Humboldt
https://www.humboldt.edu/academics/programs/energy-systems-engineering
Renewable Energy Engineering BS, Oregon Institute of Technology
https://www.oit.edu/ree
Energy Engineering, BS, UC Berkeley
https://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/energy-engineering/
Renewable Energy Systems Engineering, BS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/eng_aces/agricultural-biological-engineering-bs/renewable-energy-systems-engineering/
Electrical Power and Energy Systems, Bachelors, Arizona State University
https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/undergraduate/electrical-engineering-electric-power-and-energy-systems-bse/
Energy Systems Engineering, BS, LeHigh University
https://catalog.lehigh.edu/coursesprogramsandcurricula/engineeringandappliedscience/energy_systems_engineering/
Advanced Master in Sustainable Blue Economy, Masters, University of Trieste and the National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics -- OGS
https://maritime-forum.ec.europa.eu/advanced-master-sustainable-blue-economy-applications-are-now-open_en
Blue Economy Concentration, MBA, University of South Florida
https://www.usf.edu/business/documents/graduate/mba-online/flyer-mba-online-concentration-blue-economy.pdf
Google Project Management: Professional Certificate
https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-project-management
Project Management -- Certificate Level 1: San Jose City College
https://catalog.sjcc.edu/degrees-certificates/computer-applications/project-management-certificate-achievement-level-1/project-management-certificate-achievement-level-1.pdf
Project Management Graduate Certificate: Harvard Extension School
https://extension.harvard.edu/academics/programs/project-management-certificate/

Salary

$80,000 - $110,000 annually (varies by region and company).

Job Projections

By 2032, the global offshore wind energy market is forecasted to rise from the over $5 billion recorded in 2022 to over $31 billion. Link
The Renewables 2024 report, the IEA's flagship annual publication on the sector, finds that the world is set to add more than 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity between 2024 and 2030 -- almost three times the increase seen between 2017 and 2023. Link

Local Businesses

Resources

International Energy Agency
Active Renewable Energy Projects on Public Lands
World Resources Institute
US Energy Information Administration
US Department of Energy
Green Jobs Network

Other Related Jobs

Solar Energy Systems Engineer, Energy Analyst, Energy Systems Engineer, Energy Storage Engineer, Sustainability Consultant, Renewable Energy Sales Manager, Hydropower Engineer, Policy Analyst, Operations Manager

Energy Systems Engineer

Mid-Level

Tasks / Responsibilities

Oversee complex energy conversion and distribution systems
Inspect, troubleshoot, and improve energy storage systems
Manage the efficient use of energy in systems
Optimize energy systems through simulations and calculations
Develop strategies for integrating renewable energy sources with existing energy infrastructure
Perform energy analysis to evaluate the performance of renewable energy systems

Work Experience

3-5 years work experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Energy Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

Certificates & Degrees

Energy Systems Engineering B.S, Oregon State University
https://osucascades.edu/academics/energy-systems-engineering
Energy Systems Engineering B.S, Cal Poly Humboldt
https://www.humboldt.edu/academics/programs/energy-systems-engineering
Renewable Energy Engineering BS, Oregon Institute of Technology
https://www.oit.edu/ree
Energy Engineering, BS, UC Berkeley
https://guide.berkeley.edu/undergraduate/degree-programs/energy-engineering/
Renewable Energy Systems Engineering, BS, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
http://catalog.illinois.edu/undergraduate/eng_aces/agricultural-biological-engineering-bs/renewable-energy-systems-engineering/
Electrical Power and Energy Systems, Bachelors, Arizona State University
https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/undergraduate/electrical-engineering-electric-power-and-energy-systems-bse/
Energy Systems Engineering, BS, LeHigh University
https://catalog.lehigh.edu/coursesprogramsandcurricula/engineeringandappliedscience/energy_systems_engineering/

Salary

$85,000-100,000 annually (varies by region and company).

Job Projections

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of renewable energy engineers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029

Local Businesses

Resources

International Renewable Energy Agency
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Association of Energy Engineers
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Green Jobs Network

Other Related Jobs

Solar Energy Systems Engineer, Energy Analyst, Project Manager, Energy Storage Engineer, Sustainability Consultant, Renewable Energy Sales Manager, Hydropower Engineer, Policy Analyst, Operations Manager

Advanced Jobs

Director of Operations (Solar/Wind)

Advanced

Tasks / Responsibilities

Oversee the operational activities of renewable energy projects
Oversee the company's strategic direction
Manage the operation and maintenance of renewable energy projects
Monitor and evaluate key KPIs and long term goals
Develop, implement and scale the programs and strategies
Define long-term goals and KPIs
Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders

Work Experience

8+ years work experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction, Renewable Energy, Project Management, energy systems or related field
Master's Degree Renewable Energy, Business Administration, Engineering Management, Sustainability or in related to fields

Certificates & Degrees

Mechanical Engineering + Management, Dual MS, University of Michigan
https://masters.engin.umich.edu/degree/mechanical-engineering-mse-master-of-management/
Engineering Management, MS, Northwestern University
https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/engineering-management/
Renewable and Sustainable Energy, MS Environment, University of Colorado Boulder
https://www.colorado.edu/menv/academics/specializations/renewable-sustainable-energy
Renewable Energy Engineering, MS, Oregon Institute of Technology
https://www.oit.edu/academics/degrees/ms-ree
Solar and Renewable Energy, Graduate Certificate, University of Nevada
http://unlv.edu/certificate/solar-renewable-energy
Google Project Management: Professional Certificate
https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-project-management
Project Management -- Certificate Level 1: San Jose City College
https://catalog.sjcc.edu/degrees-certificates/computer-applications/project-management-certificate-achievement-level-1/project-management-certificate-achievement-level-1.pdf
Project Management Graduate Certificate: Harvard Extension School
https://extension.harvard.edu/academics/programs/project-management-certificate/

Salary

$120,000 - $200,000 annually (varies by region and company).

Job Projections

By 2032, the global offshore wind energy market is forecasted to rise from the over $5 billion recorded in 2022 to over $31 billion. Link
The Renewables 2024 report, the IEA's flagship annual publication on the sector, finds that the world is set to add more than 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity between 2024 and 2030 -- almost three times the increase seen between 2017 and 2023. Link

Local Businesses

Resources

International Renewable Energy Agency
Active Renewable Energy Projects on Public Lands
World Resources Institute
US Energy Information Administration
US Department of Energy
Solar Energy Industries Association
Green Jobs Network

Other Related Jobs

Chief Sustainability Officer, Director of Renewable Energy Operations, VP Energy, Chief Engineer, Senior Energy Policy Advisor, Director of Corporate Sustainability