Careers guide

Careers by career pathway

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University education
Vocational education
Transitioning from another industry
International talent

There are several different pathways into a clean energy career.

That may involve learning the relevant skills and qualifications through an educational institution, or transitioning from another industry.This section provides information on the pathways that can be taken to start a career in clean energy.

University education

The clean energy workforce relies heavily on university graduates. A high proportion have post-graduate qualifications as well.

Renewable energy – and its industry – are an application of many forms of fundamental knowledge. As such, many disciplines and fields of study can lead to a career in clean energy. The lack of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) qualified people in Australia, and engineers more specifically, implies that any STEM graduate will be well-placed in the Australian job market over the next decade. However, expertise and experience in legislation, finance, management, safety, planning and logistics are also needed.

Degrees in engineering, business and project management are the most versatile across the industry. The type of engineering degree is less important. There are as many people with mechanical or civil engineering degrees employed as electrical engineers in renewable energy as there are people with electrical engineering degrees. There are also many non-engineering roles filled by engineering graduates.

Many Australian universities offer Masters programs that are focussed on sustainable energy. These qualifications are often aimed at, or attended by, engineering graduates, but can provide a solid foundation in the industry to people of many academic backgrounds, including policy, business and law.

It is not necessary to undertake a Masters degree in renewable energy to work in renewable energy, particularly at the entry level. Every Australian state hosts high-quality universities that offer undergraduate degrees suited to employment in clean energy. The best place to start asking questions is with the Careers office of the university.

Graduates from disciplines or specialities that are non-energy-specific should not exclude themselves from seeking a career in clean energy. These people may simply require some exposure to or training in the sector to contextualise their knowledge to the demands of the industry.

The following table shows some examples of professional roles in clean energy and the degrees held by people in these roles (data from LinkedIn and information collected from Clean Energy Council member organisations).

	DEGREE STUDIED OF THOSE CURRENTLY IN THE ROLES
Asset manager	Engineering, Business, Project Management
Bid and proposals manager	Engineering, Business, Construction Management, Project Management
Business development manager	Engineering, Commerce, Economics, Marketing
Civil design engineer	Engineering
Civil engineering	Engineering
Commercial operations	Engineering, Business, Project Management
Community liaison manager	Business, Marketing, Psychology, Communications, Public Relations, Stakeholder Engagement
Contract manager	Engineering, Law, Business, Accounting, Project Management
Development manager	Engineering, Finance, Environmental studies, Project Management
Electrical engineer	Engineering
Electrical superintendent	Engineering
Environmental planner	Environmental studies
Project manager	Engineering, Project Management
PV design engineer	Engineering
Quality manager	Engineering, Safety studies
Reliability engineer	Engineering
Site administrator	Commerce, Economics, Business, Accounting
Surveyor	Surveying
Systems modeller	Engineering, Maths
Talent acquisition	Business, Human Resources Management

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Generation, transmission and distribution industries call for skilled and capable people that have the requisite training, knowledge and awareness to ensure a safe and productive environment.

The types of tradespeople and technicians (see Careers by occupation type) that support the clean energy sector come from electrical, mechanical or civil backgrounds. Pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and post-trade qualifications are all valued in the sector. These are usually supplemented by safety or competency training specific to the technology, site or industry.

An electrical license is a highly versatile qualification that would allow mobility between different types of clean energy technologies and employers. A talented electrician might consider career pathways that include experience in high-voltage operation, electrical site supervision, management or as an area superintendent.

A mechanical trade, although not legally required, is a way to demonstrate engineering knowledge and technical aptitude to prospective employers in the clean energy sector. All employers will require upskilling specific to the industry and technology, but these will only supplement an existing trade.

A nationally accredited VET system ensures that wherever a student chooses to study for a vocation they will experience the same curriculum. For an apprenticeship, it is best to engage with employers or a Group Training Organisation close to home.

When looking at potential TAFEs and independent training organisations, it is important to check whether they have the desired qualification on scope and whether they are offering the electives that the student is interested in. Just because the units are on scope, does not mean that they are being offered – always check.

For a list of training centres offering units of competencies relevant to the design and installation of small-scale renewable energy systems (grid-connected and off-grid), visit the Solar Accreditation Australia website. The Clean Energy Council also provides training to help meet ongoing Continuous Professional Development requirements.

For post-trade training relevant to large-scale renewable energy, the employer will generally manage this through induction or upskilling as they require a certain standard.

For example, the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) has set a benchmark for the industry-acceptable safety standard for the wind sector. The standard outlines the requirements of certain training courses that are delivered by certified training providers. Upon completion of a GWO course, individuals receive a certificate that is accepted by all GWO member organisations as evidence of competence and knowledge of the safety standard.

Most of Australia’s wind power developers and operators are GWO members. Visit GWO's website for a list of GWO training providers.

Similarly, the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA), instigated by the offshore oil and gas sector, is an internationally accepted qualification for rope access technicians.

It describes a safe method of work and provides ongoing professional support to technicians. It is used across many industries, including the wind sector.

IRATA qualification has three levels, with a certain number of on-rope working hours needed to demonstrate proficiency at each level. There are around 20 IRATA Approved Training centres in Australia. Visit IRATA’s website for more information.

	RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS	ADDITIONAL SKILLS OR LICENSES THAT COULD BE REQUIRED
Wind farm technician - electrical	Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820) The pathway to this could include a Certificate II in Electrotechnology (UEE22020) but could also be direct entry into the Certificate III	A-grade electrical license Construction white card High Risk Work License: elevated work platform, forklift, dogging, rigging, certain cranes Global Wind Organisation accredited safety courses, such as working at heights Rope access training Welder certificate Drivers license Site- and employer-specific induction training
Solar farm technician - electrical	Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820)	A-grade electrical license Relevant units of competency for Solar Accreditation Australia accreditation Continuous professional development to maintain Solar Accreditation Australia accreditation
Wind farm technician – mechanical	Many of streams within the following qualifications could provide a solid foundation: Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (MEM30219) Certificate III in Engineering – Fixed and mobile plant (MEM31419) Certificate III in Engineering – Industrial electrician (MEM31219)	Construction white card High Risk Work License: elevated work platform, forklift, dogging, rigging, certain cranes Global Wind Organisation accredited safety courses, such as working at heights Rope access training Welder certificate Drivers license Site- and employer-specific induction training
Blade technician	Certificate III in Engineering - Composites Trade (MEM31119) From late 2022, Federation University will be offering this qualification specifically tailored to the wind sector	Construction white card High Risk Work License: elevated work platform, forklift, dogging, rigging, certain cranes Global Wind Organisation accredited safety courses, such as working at heights Rope access training Drivers license Site- and employer-specific induction training
Hydro technician - mechanical	Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (MEM30219)	High Risk Work License: elevated work platform, forklift, dogging, rigging, certain cranes Drivers license Site- and employer-specific induction training

Cross-industry mobility

Although subject matter expertise is highly sought after by employers, most people working in clean energy didn’t start in clean energy. Skills developed and deployed in other industries can be highly relevant and transferrable to a career in clean energy.

Any electrical trades workers from any sectors or backgrounds could be useful to renewable energy power generation. Anyone with an electrical license should think about the option of a career move towards clean energy generation, storage or transmission. There may be some upskilling needed to serve the specific duties of the role or industry, but often employers are happy to support further training.

For non-electrical trade roles, a background in heavy machinery, any industrial energy settings, any experience and training working around high voltages are highly transferable. A mechanical fitter or diesel mechanic from the construction sector, manufacturing, or mining and metals might need some targeted training to attain specific skill sets but the pathways are likely to be straight-forward and worth investigating.

Blade technicians on wind farms are key team members. They inspect, maintain and repair wind turbine blades that can be damaged by dirt, general fatigue or weather events such as rain, hail or lightning strikes. Wind turbine blades are built using a combination of advanced innovative materials, including polyester, fibreglass, carbon fibre, Kevlar and epoxy. Knowledge of and experience working with composites is therefore required. Technicians from marine or aerospace industries are often well suited. Employers might also look favourably on individuals from the surfing industry, accustomed to repairing surf boards.

Globally there is high mobility between oil and gas, transmission, and the renewable energy generation or storage sectors. Demand for talent from clean energy employers is highest at the mid-career level – around 8 to 10 years – which suggests that professionals with experience in any sector could be competitive if transferability of skills and knowledge can be demonstrated.

A review of LinkedIn data of Australians employed in four renewable energy roles chosen across the spectrum of technologies and job types – electrical engineer, development manager, wind farm technician and community liaison manager – showed talent flowing from and to such diverse sectors as:

plastics
oil and gas
public safety
investment management
manufacturing
construction
mining and metals
automotive
recruitment
government
health.

So whatever your background or experience, there is likely to be an opportunity to join the future growing workforce that delivers Australia its clean and reliable electricity.

Take the time to look through the various resources in this Clean Energy Careers Guide that apply to your own situation. We will be continually updating it with new and topical information and links.

Our Careers Hub is where many clean energy employers post jobs across the renewable energy and energy storage sector. This a good starting point to understand what jobs are in demand and who is employing so that you can start applying for opportunities.

Universities and vocational education and training providers also generally offer career services.

Networking is a good way to get a foot in the door. The Clean Energy Council runs career expos, Women in Renewables events and industry events, all either online or in most capital cities. Visit the Events page on our website to see our upcoming events or subscribe to our mailing list (in the footer on this page) to stay informed about new events as they are announced.

Our Events page

International talent

Almost a third of the Australian clean energy workforce were not born in Australia. We are a diverse and culturally rich group of talented individuals, and opportunities for the international workforce continue to grow.

Globally there is high mobility between oil and gas, transmission, and renewable energy generation. However, mobility across countries within the same multinational renewable energy organisation and between competitors has also historically been high.

The blade technician role is a case in point. Most of the work in that role is carried out only in the summer months. As a result, there can be regular traffic of such technicians between the Southern and Northern Hemispheres.

People with existing experience in clean energy projects should consider a move to the sunny shores of Australia. Having internationally recognised accreditation or training, such as Global Wind Organisation wind training, can be an advantage. However, engineers of all persuasions and software or app developers would be competitive.

The Careers by Occupation and Demand page provides insight into the occupations in Australian clean energy that are currently in high demand and where demand is not being met. Anyone with experience in occupations marked in red might consider a move to Australia. There is particular interest in power system engineers, especially with knowledge of grid-connection processes, civil engineers, especially dam engineers, hydropower engineers, and structural engineers.

Read through all of this Careers Guide to understand the market and the opportunities.

There are two options for non-Australians looking to work in the Australian clean energy sector:

Permanent residency

Check the Australian Government’s Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List to see if you have skills considered critical to support Australia’s economic growth as these will be given priority. You will then need to explore the options on the Australian Home Affairs Department’s website for those that best relate to your situation.

Sponsorship by an Australian entity

For sponsorship at least two options exist: the Australian state can sponsor individuals to move to Australia, or an employer can.

For state sponsorship, you will need to visit each of the Australian state government websites to understand the requirements and process. Visit the Department of Home Affairs' website for links to the state government websites.

For employer sponsorship, the two main job platforms used by Australian employers are Seek and LinkedIn. You can also view our Careers Hub for current positions.

You can view a list of our current members to identify Australian clean energy employers who may be recruiting. They often advertise job opportunities or have an expression of interest form to add candidates to their ongoing talent pool.

Once you have identified an opportunity, apply directly for the role, making it clear to the employer that you would require sponsorship to reside in Australia.

Your resume should be succinct, no longer than three pages and in English. Include a two- or three-sentence career summary. Avoid cluttering the resume with irrelevant personal details or a photo. Ensure that your visa status is clearly indicated.

CAREERS GUIDE