Energy, Engineering & Manufacturing

Wilmington is home to several employers in the energy, engineering and manufacturing industries that provide high-paying jobs and extensive training and development programs. Two of the largest employers in New Hanover County, Corning Incorporated and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, espouse impressive commitments to clean energy. Including, Corning’s pact with Duke Energy Renewables to purchase the majority of the energy produced at their Conetoe, NC solar field — at the time, the largest field east of the Mississippi River. And GE Hitachi’s  plans to hire nearly 500 nuclear engineers and adjacent professionals over the next five years, expanding the company’s ability to provide carbon-free energy solutions across the nation.

In addition to growing job opportunities in energy and engineering with industry leaders, such as GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Cape Fear Solar Systems — which is building their new net-zero headquarters in Wilmington— impressive employers, like Bradford Products and Mojotone, offer exciting positions in unique manufacturing fields. Bradford Products, for example, has been tapped by customers around the country to fabricate and install world-class, resort-style stainless steel swimming pools. Their Stadium Swim, a massive swimming pool sports book at the Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, is a fully welded, watertight pool located directly above the casino’s gaming floor. While Mojotone, a world-class pickup manufacturer, serving electric guitar and tube amplifier enthusiasts, technicians and builders alike, has served artists around the world, including Rush, Green Day and Garth Brooks. The manufacturing company’s founder, Michael McWhorter, was also recently recognized by the US Small Business Adminstration as North Carolina’s Small Business Person of the Year.

Want to get a leg up on other job candidates? The North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association is a leading nonprofit in the region working to drive public policy, enable clean energy jobs and secure economic opportunity. For more than 40 years the organization has been an advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Women in Clean Energy.

What could be better than gaining new clean energy skills while living beside a perpetual fresh ocean breeze? University of North Carolina Wilmington offers several programs in sustainability, including a Master of Science in Environmental Studies and a minor in Sustainability.  UNCW also has a transfer program that allows students to learn in smaller class environments at the university before completing their degree at North Carolina State University.