How to hire a renewable energy engineer

How to hire a renewable energy engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step renewable energy engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a renewable energy engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new renewable energy engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The renewable energy engineer hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect renewable energy engineer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents renewable energy engineer salaries for various positions.

   Type of Renewable Energy Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Renewable Energy Engineer		$31-68
   Engineer	Engineers are highly trained professionals who determine the feasibility of various projects, usually related to the construction industry. They are considered experts in mathematics and science, two disciplines that they need to use in designing and coming up with plans for projects... Show more	$31-62
   Energy Manager	Energy Managers are consultants responsible for helping an organization with energy usage monitoring and reduction. They are responsible for analyzing energy data, setting key performance metrics in reducing energy, writing summary reports, delivering performance updates, and conducting energy audits... Show more	$29-60

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Renewable Energy
   • Energy Efficiency
   • CAD
   • PV
   • Solar Power

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage contractor RFP document preparation including technical write-up, minimum standards and specification, commissioning and testing procedures.
   • Expedite and simplify the quotation process for solar water heating systems by accurately representing solar water heating system performance through MATLAB models
   • Design both electrical and racking systems for PV systems in EPC projects.
   • Manage contractor RFP document preparation including technical write-up, minimum standards and specification, commissioning and testing procedures.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your renewable energy engineer job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A renewable energy engineer can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, renewable energy engineers' average salary in rhode island is 40% less than in new mexico.
   • Seniority. Entry-level renewable energy engineers 55% less than senior-level renewable energy engineers.
   • Certifications. A renewable energy engineer with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a renewable energy engineer's salary.

   Average renewable energy engineer salary

   $97,288yearly

   $46.77 hourly rate

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   Entry-level renewable energy engineer salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a renewable energy engineer job description

   A good renewable energy engineer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a renewable energy engineer job description:

   Renewable energy engineer job description example

   Thornton Tomasetti provides engineering design, investigation and analysis services to clients worldwide on projects of every size and level of complexity. We are a growing 1500+ person firm with 10 practices: Structural Engineering, Forensics, Applied Science, Renewal, Resilience, Construction Engineering, Protective Design and Security, Facade Engineering, Sustainability and Transportation. We work on everything from landmark buildings to small-scale specialty structures, from the historic to the high performing, while balancing multiple objectives, including form, function, schedule, sustainability, constructability and budget. TALENT is at the core of our business.
   
   Our Renewal practice provide owners and managers with a home for solutions to a wide range of structural, envelope and building systems needs for existing properties of every use, age and construction type. Our multidisciplinary design and assessment services cover a wide range of needs. We perform condition assessments, investigations, feasibility studies and peer reviews. We design repairs, renovations and alterations and oversee their execution in the field.
   The Role
   We have an immediate opportunity for Structural Engineer for our Renewal Practice. We are looking for a candidate with interest in structural design, structural repair, renovation, and retrofit design, demolition, and/or property loss consulting.
   
   Responsibilities
   · Completing structural analysis and repair rehabilitation design of concrete, steel, timber, masonry, and other structural systems.
   · Coordination of design work with in-house staff as well as other consultants including Architects and other Engineering disciplines, Cost Consultants, and Contractors.
   · Projects will be in structural repair, renovation, demolition and expansions of current structural buildings.
   
   Qualifications
   · Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Architecture. Master's degree preferred.
   · Experience with existing buildings for renovation and extensions a plus.
   · Ability and willingness to travel within the US and internationally.
   
   Thornton Tomasetti is proud to be an equal employment workplace. Individuals seeking employment at Thornton Tomasetti are considered without regards to age, ancestry, color, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, protected family care or medical leave status, race, religion (including beliefs and practices or the absence thereof), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
   
   (US Locations Only) In our culture of collaboration and innovation, we find we do our best work when we are together while minimizing the risks of COVID-19. For new hires at Thornton Tomasetti, we require COVID-19 vaccination to the extent allowed by access and permitted by government jurisdiction in your area and barring any religious or medically approved exemption.
   
   Thornton Tomasetti Global Terms of Use and Privacy Statement
   Carefully read these Terms of Use before using this website. Your access to and use of this website and application for a job at Thornton Tomasetti are conditioned on your acceptance and compliance with these terms.
   
   Please access the linked document by clicking here, select the country where you are applying for employment, and review. Before submitting your application you will be asked to confirm your agreement with the terms.

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5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find renewable energy engineers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your renewable energy engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit renewable energy engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting renewable energy engineers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new renewable energy engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the renewable energy engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new renewable energy engineer. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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