BESS Operations & Maintenance Technician

As a BESS Operations & Maintenance Technician with minimum experience (±1 year), you will be responsible for maintaining Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) electrical and electronic infrastructure across SolarAfrica Energy sites. Your role will involve monitoring battery system performance, troubleshooting BESS faults and outages, completing scheduled maintenance activities, and repairing battery-related equipment to ensure optimal system availability and performance.

Due to the high-risk nature of battery and high-voltage DC/AC systems, you must demonstrate strong safety awareness and strict adherence to Health & Safety procedures. The ideal candidate will have experience working with electrical systems, power electronics, and energy storage equipment. Training will be provided on specific BESS technologies and platforms; therefore, direct battery experience is advantageous but not mandatory.

As a BESS O&M Technician, you will help minimise system downtime, reduce safety risks, and maximise the performance and reliability of SolarAfrica Energy’s battery assets.

Position of the job in the organisation:

The O&M BESS Technician will report directly to the Maintenance Technical Manager

Principal responsibilities:

Operations & Maintenance

Monitor BESS assets, track system performance, and produce accurate operational, BESS health state (Energy Throughput) and performance reports.

Attend to battery system breakdowns, performing fault finding, root cause analysis, and corrective actions with minimal impact on system availability.

Carry out routine, preventative, and scheduled maintenance on BESS infrastructure, including battery racks, modules, enclosures, cabling, terminations, cooling systems, and auxiliary equipment.

Perform effective troubleshooting of battery systems, including Battery Management Systems (BMS), Power Conversion Systems (PCS), communication networks, and control equipment.

Diagnose, test, repair, and replace faulty battery modules, racks, fuses, DC cabling, connectors, BMS components, and associated equipment.

Electrical & Technical Works

Install, repair, and replace electrical and electronic apparatus, safety devices, distribution components, and auxiliary systems during BESS upgrades or expansions.

Diagnose and repair DC and AC systems, including cabling, busbars, protection devices, PCS/inverters, transformers, HV yard equipment, switchgear, and control gear related to BESS installations.

Interpret electrical drawings, schematics, and technical documentation to support maintenance and fault resolution activities.

Safety, Compliance & Quality

 Always ensure strict compliance with Health & Safety requirements, particularly when working with high-voltage DC systems, energy storage equipment, and in confined or containerised environments.

Follow applicable electrical standards, site procedures, and legal regulations during all operational and maintenance activities.

Maintain a high standard of housekeeping and ensure tools, equipment, and work areas are kept safe and compliant.

Reporting & Documentation

Complete and submit maintenance-related documentation, including fault reports, inspection records, service reports, and performance reports promptly.

Maintain accurate maintenance records to support asset management and compliance requirements.

Stakeholder & Site Management

Manage professional working relationships with customers, contractors, and service providers during operational support, maintenance activities, and on-site interventions.

Support coordination of on-site work to minimise downtime and disruption.

 Standby, Support & Development

Participate in standby and emergency call-out duties as required.

Provide training, guidance, and mentorship to apprentices or junior technicians on BESS systems, safe work practices, and operational procedures.

Perform any other duties reasonably associated with the role.

Experience & Skills

Proven experience as an electrician or electrical technician. Diploma in relevant vocational training or completed an apprenticeship as an electrician.

Demonstrable ability to use electrical test equipment, hand tools, and diagnostic tools (e.g., multimeter, insulation tester) and interpret electrical drawings and schematics.

Strong understanding of electrical safety procedures, HV/LV systems, and legal regulations.

Excellent critical thinking, fault-finding, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to multitask, prioritise work, and meet strict operational deadlines.

Resourceful and comfortable working in a fast-paced, operational environment.

Comfortable working at heights and within containerised or enclosed BESS environments.

Computer literacy (MS Office and basic monitoring platforms).

Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to multiple sites.

Advantageous Skills Include:

Knowledge of:

Knowledge of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including multiple technologies such as SolarMD, Sungrow, Huawei, Attess, and Tesla

Power Conversion Systems (PCS) and inverters.

Generators and hybrid power systems.

SANS 10142 and NRS 097-2 standards, particularly related to embedded generation and energy storage.

Surge, lightning protection, and grounding systems.

Networking equipment and industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, RS485, CAN, and Ethernet.

SCADA, EMS, or BMS monitoring platforms.

Work Conditions:

Overtime may be required to meet required deadlines.

Working over weekends may be needed when high-priority sites have emergency call-outs.

After-hour monitoring of the PV assets will be required. 

What Does Success Look Like?

By month 3:

I will have a solid understanding of all site-specific PV system layouts, monitoring platforms, and maintenance procedures.

I will have built reliable working relationships with customers, contractors, and apprentices.

I will have completed routine maintenance tasks independently, including cleaning circuits, inspecting wiring, and submitting accurate maintenance reports.

I will have demonstrated the ability to respond to breakdowns, carry out basic fault finding, and restore system performance with minimal energy loss

By month 6:

I will be confidently diagnosing, testing, and repairing PV panels, cables, string boxes, fuses, connectors, and distribution components without supervision.

I will be performing advanced troubleshooting to identify root causes of system faults and implementing effective corrective actions.

I will be installing and upgrading electrical apparatus and safety/distribution components as part of scheduled system improvements.

I will be consistently maintaining strong compliance with Health & Safety protocols and contributing to safe site practices.

I will be handling standby duties efficiently and ensuring minimal downtime across all assigned sites.

By month 12:

I can fully manage the end-to-end maintenance cycle for multiple PV sites, including monitoring, reporting, troubleshooting, repairs, upgrades, and customer communication.

I can independently lead complex fault-finding and system restoration with a track record of preventing repeat breakdowns through proactive maintenance.

I can train and mentor apprentices confidently, ensuring skills development and quality workmanship across the team.

I can identify opportunities for system optimization, recommend improvements, and support long-term asset reliability strategies.

Core Values:

We hire, reward, and recognise our team against these values. It is imperative that you believe in these values and demonstrate them consistently.

We are passionate and proud of what we do.

We communicate candidly, especially when it is difficult.

We take the initiative, share our mistakes, and grow together.

We are dependable and take accountability.

No one person is bigger than the solution - no egos.