Description
Design and engineer mechanical systems for solar energy projects, with emphasis on solar domestic hot water, space heating, and the mechanical aspects of PV installations. Perform site-specific analysis; conduct thermal and structural calculations; and produce mechanical designs for collectors, piping, heat exchangers, storage, and racking that meet code, climate, performance, and safety requirements across residential, commercial, and industrial facilities.
- • Perform thermal and hydraulic sizing of solar hot water and space-heating systems, including collectors, storage, pumps, and heat exchangers.
- • Design piping layouts, supports, insulation, and expansion control for solar thermal loops.
- • Engineer racking, mounting, and tracking structures for PV and solar thermal arrays to meet wind, snow, and seismic loads.
- • Conduct finite element, structural, and thermal stress analyses to validate mechanical components and connections.
- • Develop mechanical drawings and specifications (P&IDs, general arrangements, fabrication details) using CAD.
- • Review component specifications and recommend mechanical or manufacturing changes to meet performance, reliability, and cost targets.
- • Create mechanical installation, testing, and commissioning procedures, quality checklists, and safety standards.
- • Perform site audits to gather mechanical, structural, and environmental data for design and constructability.
- • Simulate solar thermal performance and energy yield under local climate conditions to optimize efficiency.
- • Provide technical support to field teams during mechanical installation, pressure testing, flushing, and system commissioning.
- • Select materials, coatings, and insulation for durability, corrosion resistance, and temperature cycling.
- • Specify mechanical instrumentation and controls (flow, temperature, pressure) for monitoring and protection.
- • Design and develop evacuated tube or flat-plate collector systems and thermal storage to project requirements.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
