By SolarPromoter

Description:

The Product Design Manager will be responsible for the entire product portfolio as it relates to photovoltaics. The main focus of this position will be to ensure that the products (up to now designed in Europe) clearly reflect the requirements for the North American markets. This person will act as a liaison between the company’s R&D/Engineering department and the regional solar markets in North America and serve as the company’s ‘eyes and ears’ for market trends and developments. He/she will communicate frequently with customers (e.g. solar dealers, distributors, installers, utilities), sales managers and other market players to determine product requirements and make sure that this market-driven feedback is incorporated into the already very successful product line. Another key deliverable will be to research, recruit and develop relationships with US-based suppliers to increase significantly the local content of the PV product line.

This position offers ample room for career progression.

Requirements

• -Minimum 3+ years experience in a technical capacity in the solar industry (e.g. Product Manager/ Developer, PV systems Designer, Applications Engineer, etc).
• - A BA/BS in a related technical or business field is required. An advanced degree such as an MBA is a plus.
• - Strong technical aptitude. A background in mechanical or electrical engineering would be of great value.
• - Strong research and analytical abilities combined with strategic vision and business acumen. Able to develop a deep knowledge of the workings of the US solar energy market and a solid understanding of the technical side of solar products.
• - Strong interpersonal and communication skills that allow for effective interaction with internal teams and with the company’s customer and supplier base. Able to develop and convey persuasive ideas regarding the strategic development and successful market positioning of the PV products.
• - Proven ability to work and excel in a fast-paced, highly entrepreneurial environment.
• - Experience working for an international organization strongly preferred.
  The ideal candidate should be a go-getter with a strong can-do and hands-on attitude. He/she should combine self-confidence, team-orientation and a high energy level with ethics, integrity and finesse.

Company
We are an international executive search firm specializing in the renewable energies and high-tech industries. We serve clients ranging from early stage start-ups to Fortune 500 companies with a thorough, analytical and fair approach.

Our client company is one of the global leaders in the alternative energy and building industry. The company provides a full range of photovoltaic and solar thermal products and is expanding its market offerings of heat pumps, solar cooling and other cutting edge technologies. The company currently serves the dealer and installer channels and the commercial market and will soon enter the utility market as well.

Relocation:
Negotiable

Location:
Bay Area

Compensation:
Negotiable

At this point, many companies are finally starting to prepare to staff up for the infusion of investment capital that is expected from the Federal Government post inauguration. That said, budgets can not be cooked based on pre-inauguration expectations any more than an employee on Wall Street can count on a gift baskets from Lehman Brothers.  It definitely looks and feels like a case of chicken & egg, but at the end of the day, the chicken and egg will exist.

By SolarPromoter

Description:
We have been retained to search for a Solar System Design Engineer for our client. Company’s goal is to make photovoltaic the primary energy source in the world.

Our client’s division in the United States is based in the San Francisco South Bay Area and they plan and construct large scale photovoltaic (PV) installations nationwide. Due to very aggressive growth an a recent start up, they seek a Solar System Design Engineer who will supervise different stages of power stations development, from conceptual design through obtaining planning consent (permitting) to the construction phase and will be actively involved in drawing-up sections of the plans with the aid of CAD –AutoCAD. Engineer will coordinate external resources and support team members in commercial and technical matters.
Initial focus will be design and permitting as company grows position will grow into Project Management and have the opportunity to grow into a Director level.

Requirements
Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering –BSEE, preferred, electronics or mechanical engineering or related science/degree will also be considered.
Experience in the development of Power Stations in particular solar or wind power plants. Will consider DC Electrical Systems Design as well.
Solar System Design experience preferred.

Experience in using the common design and yield estimation tools. CAD (AutoCAD) required.
Fundamental experience in collaboration with electricity suppliers and government agencies.
Some experience with permitting process with government agencies (i.e. photovoltaic)
NEC (National Electrical Code) knowledge
PVWATT or PVSYST familiarity a plus
Able to travel up to 25%

Company
Solar Industry Global Leader based in Germany, who is experiencing an aggressive growth in the United States. Client name is confidential.

Relocation:
Within USA

Location:
San Francisco South Bay Area, CA

Compensation:
$75K- $120K

By SolarPromoter

Some of the worlds largest oil companies are beginning to really get serious (or so they say) about solar and other forms of alternative energy. Recently, Chevron created a website devoted to their implementation of solar and carbon footprint reduction of their operations worldwide. In fact, the site is laden with videos of their Vice Chairman Peter Robertson screwing in energy saving light bulbs, boasting about alternative energy and selling cheap auto insurance. Alright, he wasn’t trying to sell car insurance, but it would have been just as believable.

I find it interesting that all of the large oil companies are suddenly obsessed over alternative energy. I wonder if their lobbyists in Washington, DC are pushing the “alternatives” package or the incentives for “big oil” package. I also find it provocative that these “oil barons” would push a program that would lead their industry into obsolescence. 

In addition to the videos and images of CEO’s replacing light bulbs, there is a host of information about fossil fuel reserves, the human population as well as global demand projections. There is actually quite a lot of useful information on the site, I just question the motives behind it. 

Source: WillYouJoinUs

By SolarPromoter

Having spent a great deal of time researching various solar gadgets and technology I have found some very interesting gadgets that appear to be solar in name only. Recently, I was reserching solar lighting accessories and stumbled onto a web page that sells designer “solar bath faucets”. Yeah, that’s right solar bath faucets! After conducting some “research” (reading further), I discovered that this product is merely a space-age inspired faucet that is trendy in design. As to whether or not the thing is solar powered seems obvious (no).

What really got me about the site was that they are marketing products as being “solar” when in fact they are not. The other thin gthat got me was the price tag. Would you spend $798.40 on a faucet? No, I didn’t thin so. Heck, I think the $60 Moen faucets are expensive enough and they aren’t even “solar”. I don’t know what the good folks at irawoods.com are thinking. Maybe there is something I am not seeing on their page, but I am having an awfully difficult time believing that their bathroom faucets are somehow solar powered. For that price they should come with solar panels for your home. Maybe that is it, maybe they come with panels or something? Just feels kind of like they are just slapping the name solar on it.

Source: IraWoods.com

By SolarPromoter

Due to increased demand of alternative energy sources, there are a number of solar photovoltaic installers who are trying to streamline their businesses into a “national grid” of their own to increase implementation of the technology. I think it is pretty interesting that competitors would find a way to get together and come up with a solution for people across the nation who might want to implement this technology. 

If you have ever noticed, there are a whole smattering of individual companies across the country that install photovoltaic panels, but not one in particular who covers both Pacific and Atlantic as well as everything between (Granted, this isn’t spring plungers or something similarly benign). Recently, Wal-Mart in California began implementing kiosks in there stores to assist customers in locating contractors in their area with all the services they would need to install the systems. Well, I just learned that Real Goods Solar is working on a similar project that is to span the nation by bringing together different solar experts from all over into their database for their customers. Currently the company is covering mostly California, but may soon expand further East. 

Source: Real Good Solar

By Brett Bumeter

We’ve recently upgraded the Website for the Solar Gold Mine Digest.  Mostly you will notice the cosmetic changes of the new site

as compared to the old site

But we have made some powerful changes behind the scenes too.  This will soon enable us to roll out even more powerful features and updates.

We’d love to hear your feedback, especially if you are having any difficulty finding anything that used to be ‘right there’. 

By SolarPromoter

Alright, there are a lot of great solar gadgets out in the marketplace and over the last few months I’ve brought you a great deal of info regarding them. Today I want to mention, in brief, the most random and worthless solar gadget ever; The Solar Powered Dancing Panda. Granted, the Panda does dance and would be a cute addition to anyone’s dashboard, but I think the effort might have been better spent elsewhere. 

I mean, am I the only one who thinks that this “gadget” is totally random? As I mentioned earlier, yeah it is cute, but come on. The panda sells for about $16 dollars and can be ordered on the following site. If you’re into this sort of thing it might be for you, in fact, if you were considering wasting your hard earned money on some silly supplement like Decaslim then maybe you ought to buy the panda instead and at least get something tangible out of the transaction.

By SolarPromoter

The Northern California Solar Energy Association will have been doling out awards this December to local homeowners and businesses for solar implementation, but has unfortunately had to cancel the ceremony due to a variety of issues. After visiting their website, it is unclear as to whether or not they will reschedule the ceremonies. In fact all they have to offer in the way of information is that the “Awards have been cancelled”.  

In the past they have awarded a number of individuals and businesses, but were apparently going to take the awards a step further and declare America’s most “Solar Friendly” cities. I suppose we will have to settle for Pinewood derby trophies in lieu of the 2008 Solar Awards. I hope that they will have an awards ceremony later on in the year or perhaps this spring to honor the folks driving our future toward a clean environment. I would say that you could find additional information on their site, but there really isn’t too much clarification there in regards to the event.

By SolarPromoter

Description:
Senior Optics Engineer
While reporting to the Vice President of Technology, the Senior Optics Engineer will be responsible for the following:
• Design, fabricate and test optics for concentrator photovoltaic modules
• Research and select low cost optical solutions and manufacturing methods
• Engage with vendors and create in-house fabrication versus outsource business case
• All aspects of the optics, including documenting the system level specification, manufacturing process, test and releasing the optics solution to production

Requirements
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate must have either a Master’s or PhD in Optics along with 5-10+ years experience in Optics Design; Optics for concentrator photovoltaics experience desired. Ability to interface effectively with vendors, customers, consultants and other external collaboration partners, as well as the ability to perform tests and report performance required. Excellent project management skills essential. The successful candidate will be experienced in detailed optical design and analysis using Zemax and LightTools. Start-up experience desired.

Company
Headquartered near Research Triangle Park in Durham, North Carolina, Semprius, Inc. is commercializing an innovative process for printing high performance single crystal semiconductors on a wide range of substrates including glass, flexible or rigid plastic and other semiconductor materials. Our technology offers an unparalleled ability to create novel devices and systems by liberating the semiconductor from its traditional rigid substrate. We are developing capabilities suitable to a wide range of applications and creating partnerships to bring novel products to market. We are seeking Senior Optics Engineer to join our team!
Benefits:
In exchange for your hard work and dedication, we offer a competitive market based salary, excellent benefits and a positive working environment. Here you’ll be a part of something new everyday where your skills and ideas can make a difference. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Relocation:
None

Location:
Durham, NC

This year people and companies are making cut backs everywhere from spending at stores, to new cars to Disney vacations.  If you are in the southeast, this job, which doesn’t offer relocation, could be a good fit to become part of a great team working in a very important area.

By SolarPromoter

I was running a search for solar power educators and clinics in the Austin, TX area and came across a pretty cool site for the Solar Living Institute of Hopland, CA. Granted the institute isn’t located anywhere near Austin, TX, but it is really a really cool institution that offers all kinds of great educational seminars and classes for people interested in learning more about solar energy and its numerous applications and advantages.  

I’ve been interested in solar energy and applications for quite some time and even signed up for their newsletter. If you recall, a few months ago I wrote a post regarding SolFest which is a workshop, live music and awareness event sponsored by the institute. I’m definitely impressed with this organization and all the cool campaigns they partake in to increase awareness for the solar cause. Granted, they are a drop in the bucket in regards to all the great institutions out there raising awareness, but I like to think of them as a bottle of diet pills used to supplement all of the great information and applications out there.