Field Service Engineer

Position Overview

The Field Service Engineer is responsible for executing preventive maintenance (PM), corrective maintenance (CM), troubleshooting, and repair activities across utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar facilities owned and operated by GS Power Partners. This role ensures optimal plant performance, availability, and reliability by diagnosing system issues, performing electrical and mechanical repairs, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives within the internal O&M organization.

The position requires strong technical expertise in PV systems, medium-voltage equipment, inverters, trackers, SCADA, and balance-of-plant equipment, along with the ability to respond quickly to operational issues impacting plant generation. This position also requires up to 90% travel in the Syracuse area.

 

Key Position Responsibilities Include

Preventive Maintenance

Execute scheduled preventive maintenance activities to maintain system performance and reliability:

• Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance on:
• PV modules and arrays
• Central and string inverters
• Combiner boxes and DC wiring
• Medium voltage transformers
• MV switchgear and reclosers
• Tracking systems and motors
• SCADA and communication systems
• Weather stations and sensors
• Conduct thermographic inspections of electrical equipment and PV arrays
• Perform torque checks, insulation resistance testing, IV curve tracing, and ground fault testing
• Inspect mechanical components including tracker drive systems, bearings, linkages, and foundations
• Verify proper operation of plant protection systems and monitoring equipment
• Maintain detailed maintenance documentation within the company’s Corrective Maintenance Management System (CMMS)

 

Corrective Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Diagnose and repair system faults to restore plant availability:

• Respond to plant alarms and performance issues identified through SCADA monitoring
• Troubleshoot faults in:
• Inverter systems
• Combiner boxes
• DC circuits
• Medium voltage distribution
• Tracker control systems
• Communication networks
• Perform component replacements including:
• Inverter power stacks
• fuses, relays, breakers
• sensors and communication hardware
• Diagnose ground faults, arc faults, communication failures, and power quality issues
• Coordinate with OEM technical support when advanced troubleshooting is required
• Conduct root cause analysis for recurring failures

 

Plant Performance & Reliability

Support performance optimization and reliability engineering:

• Monitor plant performance metrics such as availability, PR (Performance Ratio), and energy yield
• Identify underperforming arrays or equipment
• Support corrective action plans to improve plant reliability
• Participate in failure trend analysis and predictive maintenance initiatives
• Recommend system improvements to enhance operational efficiency

 

Safety & Compliance

Ensure safe work practices and regulatory compliance:

• Follow all company HSE policies, Lockout/Tagout procedures, and electrical safety protocols
• Conduct Job Hazard Analyses (JHA) prior to maintenance activities
• Maintain compliance with OSHA, NFPA 70E, and company electrical safety standards
• Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Participate in incident investigations and safety audits

 

Documentation & Reporting

Maintain accurate operational records and reporting:

• Record maintenance activities in CMMS
• Document equipment failures and repair actions
• Generate service reports and maintenance logs
• Track spare parts usage and inventory needs
• Provide technical feedback to engineering and asset management teams

 

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in energy asset management, operations, or engineering
• Proven leadership experience in a technical or operational management role
• Strong knowledge of energy infrastructure (e.g., solar PV, wind, storage, grid systems)
• Experience with asset management software (e.g., SynaptiQ, SAP, Maximo, Power BI, etc.)
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills

• Experience with international portfolios or utility-scale renewable projects
• Familiarity with ESG and sustainability metrics related to asset performance
• Professional certifications (e.g., PMP, CMRP, ISO 55000)
• 3 to 7 years of experience in power generation maintenance, solar O&M, or electrical field service
• Experience working with utility-scale PV plants (preferred)
• Experience troubleshooting inverters, MV equipment, and SCADA systems

 

Education & Preferred Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Renewable Energy Engineering, or related technical field
  OR
• Technical degree with equivalent field experience in power generation or solar O&M
• NABCEP PV Installation Professional or PV Technician
• OSHA 30 Construction
• NFPA 70E Electrical Safety
• Medium Voltage Switching Certification
• First Aid / CPR / AED

 

Physical Requirements

• Capability to work outdoors in extreme weather conditions
• Potential to walk long distances across solar sites
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. or more
• Competence to climb ladders and work at heights
• Willingness to travel between solar sites as required
• Ability to work on-call rotations for plant outages or emergencies

 

Position Location

• The Field Service Engineer position will be based remotely with travel, up to 90% of the time in the Syracuse area

 

Compensation

GSPP offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401k and paid time off.