Assistant Designer

Job Description: Assistant Designer

Position Level: Entry Level

Start Date: On or about Monday, August 10^th, 2026

Division(s): Sales & Design

Reports To: Designer

Company Overview: Pisgah Energy Inc. is a solar and energy storage design and development firm serving commercial, municipal, institutional, and utility clients across the Southeastern US. Services include project planning, energy usage analysis, feasibility studies, solar and energy storage design, financial analysis, RFP services, project development, construction administration, and design-build services.

Position Summary: The Assistant Designer is a new position created to support the growing needs of the company’s consulting, design, construction administration, and design-build services for rooftop, ground-mounted, parking canopies, floating solar PV arrays, and energy storage systems. The Assistant Designer’s primary responsibility is to support the design, estimating, interconnection, and permitting needs for the company.

The Assistant Designer is responsible for the following duties:

• Generating code-compliant solar PV layouts and production reports throughout multiple stages of project development. Primary Software - Helioscope.
• Providing energy usage analysis. Primary Software - Excel and Energy Toolbase
• Accompanying the Designer and other Pisgah Energy staff to conduct field site visits for obtaining/confirming site information that is relative to the design and interconnection of the system.
• Creating and backfilling the Master Project Spreadsheet using the existing template to record makes, models, and quantities of equipment utilized in a design.
• Supporting the Designer with preparing and providing cost estimates for materials, permitting, and various subcontractor trades.
• Providing financial analysis for solar and energy storage projects including key investment metrics like IRR, Simple Payback, NPV, LCOE, annual and lifetime energy savings. Primary Software - Energy Toolbase.
• Conducting glare study analysis for solar PV arrays.
• Providing plan-reviews for land surveyors, civil, geotech, structural, electrical engineering plan sets during schematic design, design-development, and construction drawings.
• Assisting the Designer with reviewing subcontractor bid packages as necessary.
• Assisting the Designer with providing and submitting interconnection documents to company clients, state and federal utilities commissions, and utility companies including Reports of Proposed Construction, Site Control Verification documents, and Site Plans.
• Gathering AHJ specific design criteria to be used for project specific design and estimating purposes.
• Vetting products the company uses in design and construction and supporting company vendor relationships.
• Providing solar PV and energy storage layouts and schematics. Primary Software – AutoCAD.
• Supporting client rooftop warranty needs by gathering the necessary documentation and incorporating the manufacturer-specific requirements into solar designs.
• Supporting Business Development staff with proposal compilation.
• Supporting the research needs for the Business Development and Design Departments.
• Developing Standard Operating Procedures within the Design Department. Maintaining existing Pisgah Energy Standard Operating Procedures and updating as necessary.
• Assisting the Designer with generating project schedules. Primary Software – Smartsheet and MS Project
• Participating in weekly team meetings and monthly department meetings.

This is a living document and subject to change over time as needed. All employees may be asked to perform additional duties as needed.    

Requirements: The Assistant Designer must have a fundamental understanding of photovoltaic and energy storage systems, energy units, and the electrical and mechanical integration of system components. This is an entry level position that has opportunity for growth and advancement within the company. Occasional travel will be required. Clear communication, strong math, exceptional organizational, and analytical skills are a must. This position is based in the Asheville Office with some occasional light lifting required.

• Valid Driver’s License
• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree in Renewable Energy, Physics, Energy, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, or Building Science
• Must reside in or be willing to move to the Greater Asheville North Carolina Area
• Experience using MS Office, Excel, AutoCAD

Compensation: Annual Salary $52,000-$57,000, Depending on Experience.

Work Schedule: 8:30-5pm M-Th, 8:30-12:30 F

Benefits:

• Company Credit Card
• Company Computer
• Monthly Cell Phone Stipend ($60)
• Health Insurance Stipend at 50% of Insurance Premium or $250/month, whichever is less.
• Paid Vacation (4 weeks annually)
• Paid Holidays (10 days annually)
• Paid Sick Days (5 days annually)
• Paid Parental Leave (4 weeks annually)
• Professional Training and Certification Opportunities
• Access to Company vehicle for work-related travel