General Description
The Wind Technician III is responsible for troubleshooting complex electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical systems to maintain wind turbine operation at EDPR NA’s wind-energy generation sites. Responsibilities also include active involvement in major correctives and major component repair and replacements in the safest manner possible and at the lowest overall cost.
Main Accountabilities:
- Ensure proper operation and maintenance of wind turbines and associated wind turbine equipment
- Proactively look for improvement opportunities to appropriate processes and procedures and communicate through proper channels or implement improvements using the appropriate control management protocol
- Assist in Task Base Certification program development and implementation
- Perform advanced-level troubleshooting for component repair and replacements with proficient use of specialized tools and diagnostic processes
- Effectively gather information regarding turbine performance/issues to diagnose, recommend, and implement solutions to complex issues
- Demonstrate effective project leadership and delegation for major correctives, retrofits, and main component repair/replacements
- Closely adhere to all safety standards and procedures and act as a safety role model by encouraging and recognizing others completing safe acts and intervening when unsafe acts are being practiced
- Identify gaps in safety standards and safety risks in the work environment
- Implement effective risk mitigations and provide recommendations to higher-level technical staff and management
- Perform data collection and prepare reports in order to meet reporting requirements
- Perform QA/QC inspections in accordance with applicable SOP
- Facilitate periodic equipment inspections and reporting
- Document all work performed using computer-based service reporting procedures
- Assist teammates in accomplishing operational objectives as well as mentoring lower-level technical staff
- Perform additional duties as required
Direct reports: None
Travel: minimal, as needed
Minimum qualifications:
- 3+ years of college or technical school education, or an equivalent combination of training and experience
- 4 – 6 years of relevant experience in wind energy or a related industry
- Ability to operate a motor vehicle and possession of a valid driver’s license
- Ability to work around low- and medium-voltage equipment
- Experience with power plant operations and maintenance, wind plant operations and turbines (including turbine power converters specifically), high voltage switching, and post-operational repair and maintenance of turbines preferred
- Ability and willingness to respond to site emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as needed, and on short notice as needed due to on-call scheduling
- Ability to work weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed
- Strong ability to read, interpret, and understand drawings and schematics to develop work instructions for planned activities ensuring risks are identified and mitigated
Behavioral requirements:
- Able to effectively collaborate with employees at all professional levels and ability to respectfully follow supervision and support initiatives.
- Basic computer operation skills, familiarity with internet-based program navigation, and ability to generate and interpret computer data.
- Ability to read, interpret and understand drawings and schematics to validate work activity and ensure that risks are identified and mitigated.
Physical demands & working conditions:
- Sitting/Standing/Flexibility: Ability to frequently perform physical tasks including standing, sitting, walking, kneeling, bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching approximately 75% of the time while on wind farm sites; ability to stand and sit for 8 or more hours when in an office environment
- Walking: Ability to walk .25 to .5 miles per day, including across unpaved and rough surfaces when on wind farm sites
- Speech/Reading: Ability to speak, read, and write English proficiently and deliver a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or scheduled form
- Lifting: Ability to frequently lift items weighing up to 50 pounds
- Climbing:
- Ability to climb turbine towers in excess of 100 meters in height to access the work area
- Weight must be between 125 lbs. and 275 lbs., excluding equipment/gear worn when performing job-related tasks, to be in accordance with the ANSI Fall Protection Standards.
- Vision/Hearing: Ability to interpret and follow a variety of instructions furnished in written, verbal, diagram, or schedule form
- Tolerance to Extreme Weather Conditions: Ability to work in adverse weather conditions 25% of the time while on wind farm sites
- Safety: Ability to understand and communicate safety precautions when necessary