Karpel Associates provides solar executive search for developers, independent power producers, EPC contractors, module and tracker manufacturers, and residential installers across the US. If you are hiring a CEO, a head of development or a construction leader who has actually brought megawatts online, we run the search and hand you a short list of people worth meeting.
Solar recruiters who know the project lifecycle
A solar company's leadership needs change with each stage of a project. Early on, value is created by land agents, permitting leads and interconnection specialists who can secure a viable queue position. Mid-stage, it shifts to people who can negotiate offtake, structure tax equity and lock in module supply. At construction and beyond, it belongs to EPC managers and asset managers who keep schedules and availability on track.
We recruit across that whole arc. Stacey Karpel has spent the last 15+ years working only in renewable energy, and solar has been central to that work, including a long relationship with SunPower. That history means we already know who has delivered a portfolio through notice to proceed and who has only watched from the sidelines.
Which solar roles are hardest to fill?
Some seats stay open far longer than others. In our experience, these are the toughest:
- Interconnection and transmission leads. Queue reform and long study timelines have made people who understand utility studies, cluster processes and network upgrade costs extremely valuable.
- Project finance and tax credit specialists. The Inflation Reduction Act changed how solar projects are capitalized. Leaders who understand transferability, domestic content and energy community adders are in short supply.
- Domestic manufacturing operators. New module, cell and tracker factories need plant managers who have scaled production lines, often recruited from semiconductors, automotive or glass.
- Residential sales leadership. Shifts in net metering rules and consumer financing have forced residential installers to rebuild their sales models, and leaders who can do that profitably are rare.
What we look for in a solar executive
| Role | What separates the strongest candidates |
|---|---|
| VP of Development | A record of projects that reached financial close, not just a large early-stage pipeline |
| Director of Interconnection | Fluency with ISO and utility study processes and realistic upgrade cost forecasting |
| VP of EPC Construction | Safety culture, subcontractor management, and on-time delivery across multiple states |
| Head of Origination | Relationships with corporate buyers and utilities, plus disciplined PPA pricing |
| VP of Project Finance | Tax equity and transferability experience, and credibility with lenders |
| Plant Manager, Manufacturing | Yield improvement, automation, and building a skilled workforce from scratch |
We only present people who meet at least 90% of the skillset you define in discovery, so the interviews you sit through are with genuine contenders.
How a solar search runs with us
Every engagement starts with a discovery call where we learn your segment, your project stage and what the role must achieve in its first year. From there, we search our network, screen hard, and deliver a curated shortlist of three to five candidates. After the hire, we stay in touch with both sides to make sure the placement holds. You can see each stage of that process on our executive search services page.
Many solar companies pair their search with adjacent hires. Hybrid solar-plus-storage projects often need a battery specialist, so we regularly run related searches through our energy storage recruiting practice. Developers facing tough interconnection questions also lean on candidates from our utilities and grid modernization network.
Who we work with in solar
Our solar clients include:
- Utility-scale developers and IPPs building portfolios across multiple ISOs
- Community solar developers working through state program rules
- Commercial and industrial (C&I) solar providers serving corporate and public buyers
- Residential installers and solar finance companies
- Module, inverter, racking and tracker manufacturers
- Private equity and infrastructure investors building solar platforms
We recruit for every function those businesses rely on: leadership, finance, operations, engineering, sales, business development, legal and marketing.
Start your solar search
Tell us about the role, the project stage and what success looks like. We will tell you honestly what the market looks like and how we would approach it. Contact Karpel Associates to schedule a discovery call.