Most energy companies talk about workforce development. Terraforma Energy actually built it into their business model.
Founded in 2021, the Austin-based solar developer has installed over 800MW of utility-scale solar in the Southwest and currently employs 340 people — with plans to triple that by end of 2027. What makes Terraforma different isn't the megawatts. It's the pipelines: from apprentice to project lead in 18 months, from zero solar experience to certified installer in 12 weeks.
We sat down with Dana Park, Terraforma's Head of People, to learn how they're doing it.
GreenKollar: Terraforma has a reputation for hiring people with no prior solar experience. Is that actually true?
Dana: Completely true, and very intentional. About 45% of our current workforce had no energy sector background when they joined. We hire for attitude, trainability, and alignment with our mission. Skills we can teach. Commitment to clean energy is harder to instill.
GK: What does that training pipeline actually look like?
Dana: We have a 12-week foundational program called GreenStart. It covers solar PV basics, electrical safety, NEC code fundamentals, and site operations. It's a mix of classroom, simulation, and hands-on install. After that, employees are placed in crew roles with senior mentors for another 8–10 weeks before they're fully independent.
For people who show real aptitude, we fast-track to our NABCEP sponsorship — Terraforma covers the full cost, about $800 per person. About 70% of our current certified techs went through that path.
GK: What roles are you hiring most aggressively right now?
Dana: Project coordinators and development associates are our biggest need right now. As we scale into the Midwest — we just broke ground on our first Illinois project — we need people who can manage the permitting, interconnection, and stakeholder communication side of projects. We're also hiring heavily on the finance side: project finance analysts and tax equity specialists.
GK: What does Terraforma look for in a cover letter or interview?
Dana: Specificity. We don't want to hear "I'm passionate about sustainability." Everyone says that. We want to hear: "I spent three months volunteering at a local solar co-op and I learned X." Or: "I changed careers because I wanted my work to matter, and here's the moment that crystallized it." We want to know why you specifically, not the general category of climate-concerned person.
Terraforma's Open Roles (as of publication)
- Project Development Associate — Austin or remote, $65K–$80K
- Solar Installer Trainee (GreenStart program) — Phoenix & Tucson, $42K
- Project Finance Analyst — Austin, $85K–$105K
- Community Liaison Specialist — Remote, $58K–$70K
- Grid Interconnection Engineer — Austin or Denver, $95K–$120K
Terraforma isn't a company that talks about changing the world — it's one actually building the infrastructure to do it, one project and one career at a time.
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