Good luck Steve, I can understand your position very well. I to am the designer and AHJ (Federal Government)and inherited my job from a Civil Engineer. I had the advantage that he was still around, had a photographic memory, and though he did not give me hands on experience himself, he sent me out the first day with an old salt electrician working in the dry wells of sewage lift stations. I am glad for this experience and many others with him before they retired or moved on and still get out with the hands-on end when possible or needed.
That said "renosteinke" has some very good advice and I hope that you are working with only US listed parts and systems to avoid complications, otherwise you will need to be knowledgable on these also.
My advice is get a good working relationship with one doing the installs who has credentials. I don't mean become drinking buddy's, but a relationship where both you and they can learn and grow. At first this may be pretty much one-way, from them to you, but you will be able to help them in some areas. Everyone has strengths.
You being new, they may also bring out that something that has always been done is stupid and suggest a change. Get all the info you can, explain that you will study this out and get back with them, but direct them to continue on as before. You take this and both of you can study it out, you may find the reason and need to keep it like it is, or indeed it may be stupid. Then armed with knowledge you can make the change.
Next get code training. Get yourself signed up for classes even if you do not have the budget. I recommend any training that I have received from IAEI, also my state and neighboring ones offer free to very inexpensive training partially paid for with fees collected from building permits and anyone can attend. (I should have checked your profile.) See if you have that avenue available.
Use this bulletin board, these people are great and very knowledgable. I know that many of these people teach code.
When a source runs dry or you you see where you are outgrowing it, find another. I may not know much, but I can ussually find someone who does.
Most importantly, share what you learn with others. It solidifies your knowledge and with and open mind, it will correct it and add to it.
Shane
