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Lead Technical Trainer at AES in Bakersfield
Job Description
Lead Technical Trainer
Location: US, Flexible, CA · Hybrid
Are you ready to be part of a company that's not just talking about the future, but actively shaping it? Join The AES Corporation, the largest US-based global power company with a team of 8,300 employees across 12 countries.
AES has been ranked #1 by BloombergNEF in renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years, providing electricity for millions of people worldwide.
We are proud to foster a strong workplace culture, earning prominent positions in Great Place to Work™ rankings across the markets where we operate. AES was also named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 13th consecutive year in 2026, highlighting our dedication to integrity, transparency, and responsible business practices.
Our spirit of innovation continues to earn industry recognition. AES is the only seven-time winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Awards in the twenty-first century, a distinction honoring global leadership in advancing the electric power industry.
If you're ready to be part of a company that's not just adapting to change, but driving it, AES is the place for you. We're not just building a more sustainable future, we're powering it. Apply now and energize your career with a true leader in global energy.
AES Clean Energy (ACE) O&M group is seeking a candidate to assist in developing and managing a renewable technical training program for the Solar/Wind/Battery technicians. We are seeking a proactive, highly knowledgeable and organized Lead Technical Trainer to support and execute corporate training initiatives. This individual will tactically support the Senior Manager of Technical Training in executing the Training Team’s objectives and vision through the coordination, development, and delivery of training programs that span field operations and corporate teams.
The Lead Technical Trainer position is a versatile role in AES’s Technical Training team, which will evolve as the Training Program develops. The Training team’s mission is to increase site safety and reliability through technical training systems that build and preserve technician capability, and add value to Field Operations personnel and their leaders.
The ideal candidate:
- Has worked in the PV field for years, possessing advanced hands-on expertise in PV and/or PV+BESS O&M best practices
- Is passionate about sharing their technical experience to help other technicians grow.
- Is organized, process-oriented, and values structured learning environments.
- Has excellent written and verbal communication skills and can communicate complex technical concepts clearly and effectively.
- Is confident in leading groups of technical experts to write standard operating procedures (SOPs)
- Is interested in training both in remote and hands-on practical applications and is able to travel 25%
Required Qualifications (experience years may overlap):
- 4+ years of field experience in hands-on operations and maintenance of utility-scale PV or PV+BESS sites with proven track record on, at minimum, the following activities:
- Experience on 3 or more different utility-scale PV sites.
- Central inverter, including medium voltage transformer, routine maintenance and corrective troubleshooting.
- Diagnosing and troubleshooting PV module issues on performance and manufacturing.
- Diagnosing and troubleshooting PV ground faults.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)
- 3+ years experience in technical training, peer-mentorship, and/or curriculum development; OR proven track record in communicating complex technical concepts clearly and effectively to peers and fellow technicians.
- 2+ years in a senior technician role in O&M of utility-scale PV or PV+BESS sites. Wind or Thermal experience would be considered.
- 2+ years as an employee of an energy corporation or utility that manages a large amount and range of PV and PV+BESS sites.
- Certified on 2 or more central inverter manufacturer (OEM) training
- Preferred experience with learning management systems (LMS) and e-learning tools (e.g., Articulate, Captivate, Camtasia).
Key Responsibilities
Support Senior Manager of Training on tasks related to executing the vision and managing of the training program
Training Development
- Participate in front-end analysis of scoping content necessary for field operations technicians.
- Lead training content development in digital formats, for training applications both virtually and in-person.
- Develop, gather and vet content and resources provided by experienced AES field professionals (subject matter experts) to instructional designers for curriculum development.
- Review, edit, and improve training content, both internal and outsourced.
- Anticipate new technologies in upcoming projects to integrate appropriate training.
- Support Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) training vendors in improving training offerings that are outside AES purview but directly affect AES business.
- Close the gap between the AES Training Program and OEM training through new curriculum development and training, with a focus on increasing AES technician passing rates.
- Manage OEM Training: coordinating with vendors; organizing 6 regions for single POC; tracking of completions and recertification needs.
Training Delivery
- Support training completions by providing remote and/or hands-on training and technical assistance to technicians, by increasing engagement, and by supporting process development and improvement.
- Lead deployment of in-person training formats, including developing a training and mentoring culture in the field through train-the-trainer best practices.
- Provide technical instruction covering multiple topics in areas of expertise.
- Continuously review technical training content to identify gaps, redundancies, outdated material, and emerging needs. This includes side-by-side analysis and matching with training provided by other departments.
Training Team processes and structure:
- Support the inclusion of new training courses and improved processes.
- Ensure the growth and evolution of the AES CE O&M Technical Training Program in general, and specifically integrate feedback loops, expansion needs, and ease of adoption.
- Support Senior Manager of Technical Training in developing processes for in-person training that consider audience needs, with an emphasis on repeatability, scalability, tracking, and efficiency.
- Support Senior Manager of Technical Training in developing a cohesive vision and process for PV and BESS OEM training.
Training communications and reporting:
- Become a proactive link between field operations personnel and the Training Team for technical training feedback and improvements.
- Work closely with Training Program Specialist when the team identifies a technician who needs additional support.