Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2199.11
Solar Energy Systems Engineers
Perform site-specific engineering analysis or evaluation of energy efficiency and solar projects involving residential, commercial, or industrial customers. Design solar domestic hot water and space heating systems for new and existing structures, applying knowledge of structural energy requirements, local climates, solar technology, and thermodynamics.
- US jobs
- 154,070 (SOC 17-2199 group, "Engineers, All Other")
- Median wage
- $122,930 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of solar energy systems engineers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 9% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark (figures for the SOC 17-2199 group).
- 7%Design electrical or electronic systems or equipmentNot measured
- 5%Design industrial systems or equipmentNot measured
- 5%Research technology designs or applicationsNot measured
- 5%Create visual designs or displaysNot measured
- 4%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
- 4%Develop models of systems, processes, or productsNot measured
- 3%Document technical designs, procedures, or activitiesNot measured
- 3%Advise others on business or operational mattersNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 61%Claude Opus 5.5 (max) with Claude Code 2.1.280 · 24 Sep 2026Strong
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Conduct engineering site audits to collect structural, electrical, and related site information for use in the design of residential or commercial solar power systems.
- Create plans for solar energy system development, monitoring, and evaluation activities.
- Design or coordinate design of photovoltaic (PV) or solar thermal systems, including system components, for residential and commercial buildings.
- Provide technical direction or support to installation teams during installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring.
- Create electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or connection diagrams for solar electric systems, using computer-aided design (CAD) software.
- Perform computer simulation of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation system performance or energy production to optimize efficiency.
- Review specifications and recommend engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives.
- Develop design specifications and functional requirements for residential, commercial, or industrial solar energy systems or components.
- Develop standard operation procedures and quality or safety standards for solar installation work.
- Create checklists for review or inspection of completed solar installation projects.
- Perform thermal, stress, or cost reduction analyses for solar systems.
- Test or evaluate photovoltaic (PV) cells or modules.
Other job titles for this occupation (30)
Consulting Engineer · Engineer · Photovoltaic System Designer (PV System Designer) · Power Systems Engineer · Project Engineer · Research Engineer · Solar Design Engineer · Solar Designer · Solar Energy Engineer · Solar Engineer · Applications Engineer · Renewable Energy Specialist · Solar Applications Development Engineer · Solar Array Engineer · Solar Development Engineer · Solar Energy Advisor · Solar Energy Contractor · Solar Energy Systems Designer · Solar Energy Systems Engineer · Solar Mechanical Engineer · Solar Performance Engineer · Solar Process Engineer · Solar Professional Engineer (Solar PE) · Solar Project Engineer · Solar PV Designer (Solar Photovoltaic Designer) · Solar PV Engineer (Solar Photovoltaic Engineer) · Solar PV Product Development Engineer (Solar Photovoltaic Product Development Engineer) · Solar PV Systems Engineer (Solar Photovoltaic Systems Engineer) · Solar Systems Designer · Utility Scale Engineer