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Solar Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

By moving compute into orbit, we tap nearly unlimited solar power and radiate heat straight into ... We're a small team of exceptional engineers, backed by leading investors, building in person in ...

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Solar Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$55.8K

$117.2K

$184.9K

How much do solar engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for solar engineer in Seattle, WA is $117,165.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,300.00 and $161,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a solar engineer do?

A Solar Engineer designs, develops, and oversees the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems, such as solar panels and photovoltaic cells. They work to optimize the efficiency and reliability of these systems for residential, commercial, or industrial use. Solar Engineers also assess project sites, perform technical analyses, and ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards. Their work helps advance the adoption of renewable energy and reduce environmental impact.

What are some common challenges solar engineers face when working on large-scale solar projects?

Solar Engineers working on large-scale projects often encounter challenges such as coordinating with multiple stakeholders, managing project timelines, and addressing site-specific constraints like land availability or local weather conditions. Ensuring regulatory compliance and grid connectivity can also be complex due to varying regional requirements. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as engineers frequently collaborate with construction teams, suppliers, and local authorities to keep projects on track.

What is the difference between Solar Engineer vs Solar Technician?

AspectSolar EngineerSolar Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; certifications like NABCEP (optional)High school diploma or technical training; NABCEP certification preferred
Work EnvironmentDesign, planning, project management, and system analysisInstallation, maintenance, troubleshooting on-site
Employer & Industry UsageEngineering firms, solar companies, project developersInstallation companies, maintenance service providers

Solar Engineers focus on designing and planning solar power systems, ensuring optimal performance and compliance. Solar Technicians handle the hands-on installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of solar panels. Both roles are essential in the solar industry but differ in responsibilities and required qualifications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a solar engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Solar Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical or mechanical engineering, with expertise in solar energy systems and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with PV system design software (like PVsyst), CAD tools, and industry certifications such as NABCEP are highly valuable. Strong problem-solving abilities, project management skills, and effective communication set outstanding professionals apart. These competencies ensure safe, efficient, and innovative solar solutions that meet both technical and client requirements in a rapidly growing industry.

Are solar engineers in demand?

Solar engineers are in high demand due to the growth of renewable energy projects and increasing investments in solar power infrastructure. They typically need technical skills in electrical or mechanical systems and may require certifications in solar technology or engineering. The job outlook is positive, with opportunities across various regions focusing on sustainable energy development.

What is a solar engineer?

Solar engineers plan, design, and execute solar energy projects, from the installation of new solar energy panels on a home to the building of a new solar power plant. Typically, one engineer is required for solar panel installation on a single rooftop. Larger projects, such as new power plants or large panel installations, need multiple solar engineers to handle the logistics. As a solar engineer, you visit the installation site and meet with customers to discuss and resolve any budgetary, feasibility, and design issues. Before any construction begins, you work with designers and engineers to determine the appropriate arrangement of solar panels to maximize efficiency. With the plan in place, you coordinate the teams that are working on the project and procure materials and equipment, create contracts with electrical and building contractors, and communicate with OEM companies to ensure that the parts for the facility are made to the proper specifications. You provide timely written and verbal updates throughout the construction process to the clients. Once the project is complete, you work with the client or the facility’s managers and maintenance personnel to ensure that the site is in good working order and all designs and specifications are available for continued site maintenance.

What job categories do people searching Solar Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Solar Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Solar Engineer jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Solar Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Solar Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 88% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,165 per year, or $56.3 per hour.

Lead Electrical Engineer

Starcloud

Redmond, WA

$200K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 17 days ago


Job description

Who we are

Starcloud is building data centers in space. By moving compute into orbit, we tap nearly unlimited solar power and radiate heat straight into the cold of space, escaping the energy and cooling limits that constrain data centers on Earth. We launched our first spacecraft last year and have three more flying over the next 18 months, each a different architecture, giving us an unusually fast design-build-test-fly loop. We're a small team of exceptional engineers, backed by leading investors, building in person in Redmond, WA.

The role

You'll own the electrical architecture, design, analysis, testing, and flight execution of every electrical system on our spacecraft. It's a hands-on leadership role: deep individual technical contribution plus building and leading the electrical engineering team. You'll have real freedom to pursue novel architectures, test them fast on the ground, and validate them in orbit, on a problem that genuinely requires new solutions.

What you'll do
  • Own the electrical architecture: power generation, storage, distribution, conversion, avionics, compute interfaces, harnessing, and grounding across spacecraft and payloads.
  • Lead the hard trades: power architecture, battery sizing, solar array interfaces, power conversion, redundancy, fault protection, and avionics integration, optimized across performance, mass, cost, reliability, and schedule.
  • Push novel architectures: prototype rapidly, test on the ground, validate in orbit.
  • Deliver flight hardware end to end: concept through design, procurement, manufacturing, integration, test, qualification, and launch.
  • Own electrical test: board, subsystem, and spacecraft level, and turn test data and on-orbit telemetry into better designs across successive spacecraft.
  • Build the team: hire, manage, and mentor the electrical engineering team, and set the standards, design-review practices, and verification workflows.
  • Partner cross-functionally: mechanical, thermal, avionics, software, systems, manufacturing, test, and operations.
What we're looking for
  • BS in Electrical, Computer, or Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent experience.
  • 8+ years of hands-on electrical engineering: design, analysis, hardware development, integration, and test.
  • Deep command of power electronics, power distribution, batteries, solar arrays, grounding, EMI/EMC, harnessing, and avionics interfaces.
  • A track record delivering electrical hardware optimized for performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
  • Comfortable managing engineers while staying deeply hands-on.
  • You thrive in fast, highly iterative hardware development, with an appetite for unconventional designs and disciplined engineering under uncertainty.
Nice to have
  • Experience formally leading an electrical engineering team.
  • Spacecraft electrical hardware, or other mission-critical hardware that has survived a harsh environment.
  • High-power systems: spacecraft or data center power, automotive power electronics, grid-scale power, industrial controls, robotics, aviation, or defense.
  • Hands-on PCB development, harness fabrication, connector selection, EMI/EMC control, and integration under real manufacturing constraints.
Eligibility

This role requires access to information controlled under U.S. export laws. Candidates must be a U.S. person (citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) under ITAR/EAR.

Compensation and benefits

Annual salary: $200,000 - $250,000 USD

Starcloud offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including stock options, discretionary bonuses, medical, vision, dental, 401(k) with company match, disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, vacation, holidays, and sick leave.

Don't quite fit?

If this isn't an exact match but you're exceptional at what you do, tell us what you'd own and why Starcloud, and apply anyway.