How to apply for Field Service Technician I – Solar (Entry Level, Paid Training)

About New Energy Equity (NEE)

New Energy Equity finances and develops solar projects, with over 330MW installed since 2013. Energy Support Services keeps those systems safe, reliable, and producing clean power. This is a chance to enter the solar field with paid training and certifications, without prior solar experience.

About the role

As a Field Service Technician I – Solar, you will perform routine inspections, preventative maintenance, and basic troubleshooting on solar energy systems. You work outdoors on solar sites in and around Chicago, alongside senior technicians who are expected to teach you. This role is field-based, not remote or work-from-home.

A typical day

You drive from your home to solar sites in and around Chicago, typically 30–90 minutes away. On site, you perform routine inspections, preventative maintenance, and basic troubleshooting alongside senior technicians. You work outdoors, use hand tools and a multimeter, and follow safety rules for working at height.

Who New Energy Equity (NEE) is looking for

• You already live within commuting distance of Chicago or are actively relocating there at your own expense before your start date.
• You come from another trade and can diagnose problems, use hand tools and a multimeter, and work safely at height.
• You show up reliably and can work a Monday–Friday schedule, 7am–3pm or 8am–4pm, with rotational Saturday on-call from 8am–12pm.
• You are willing to travel 30–90 minutes typically, rarely over 3 hours, and do overnight travel under 10%.

Tips for this application

• State your Chicago-area location or your concrete relocation plan in the first lines of your resume or application, because candidates not located in or actively relocating to Chicago cannot be considered.
• Emphasise hands-on trade experience: diagnosing problems, using hand tools and a multimeter, and working safely at height.
• Confirm you understand the work arrangement is on-site and field-based, not remote, to avoid being screened out.
• Mention your ability to work the fixed schedule and rotational Saturday on-call, since reliability is a stated requirement.
• If you have no solar experience, say so directly and show you are ready to learn and complete paid certifications.

What to cover in your cover letter

Confirm you live in or are relocating to Chicago at your own expense before the start date. Describe specific trade experience with diagnostics, hand tools, multimeters, and working at height. State your availability for the Monday–Friday schedule and rotational Saturday on-call. Express willingness to learn solar and complete paid certifications.

Research before applying

• New Energy Equity's solar projects and the 330MW installed since 2013.
• What Energy Support Services does to keep solar and energy storage systems safe and reliable.
• Typical solar site conditions in and around Chicago, including weather and travel between sites.
• Details of the paid training and certifications mentioned in the job posting.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Your location and whether you are within commuting distance of Chicago or actively relocating.
• Examples of diagnosing a problem using hand tools and a multimeter.
• How you ensure safety when working at height.
• Your ability to work the Monday–Friday schedule, rotational Saturday on-call, and occasional overtime.
• Why you want to enter solar with no prior experience and how you learn new technical skills.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without confirming you live in or are actively relocating to Chicago, which makes you ineligible.
• Treating the role as remote or work-from-home when it is on-site and field-based.
• Claiming solar experience you do not have instead of showing transferable trade skills and willingness to learn.