Lead Engineer - Wind Turbine Blade Components

Job Description Summary

As a Lead Engineer of wind blade structural components, you are responsible for the technical underwriting and generation of design concepts, specifications, and practices of blade structural components. Blade structural components include spar caps, shells, shear webs, bonding, add-ons, root close out, and other structural components in wind turbine blades.

The areas associated with wind turbine blade structural components includes execution of design concepts, design principles and methods, design values, material partial safety factors, acceptance criteria, and Design Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (DFMEA) for structural components. For these areas, you will be supported by Principal Engineers (PEs) to set and execute field issue resolution, factory issue resolution, and program execution via design reviews.

You will collaborate cross-functionally with other designated experts across Design, Systems, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to achieve desired outcomes, executing the work yourself. As the Lead Engineer Wind Turbine Blade Structural Components, your curiosity, problem-solving skills, and ability to lead design teams will be crucial in ensuring we can technically underwrite that our products and services are of high quality and meet customer needs. Your passion for innovation, ability to develop competent skills, and your capacity to solve technical challenges head-on will drive your success in OneWind Engineering.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Prioritize work by Safety, Quality, Delivery, then Cost.
• Provide solutions to specific field quality issues, production quality issues, new product design, new technology design, and repair.
• Scope and plan new component developments according to needs and wants of internal and external customers.
• Develop wind blade component design concepts that are manufacturable. Set acceptance criteria accounting for both structural requirements and manufacturing capabilities. Where there is a disconnect develop an execution action plan to resolve.
• Work cross-functionally with other functions to agree on scope and approaches to solve technical challenges within the components.
• Specify components and design rules in design specifications according to established procedures.
• Execute the design, analysis, or evaluation of assigned projects using sound engineering principles and adhering to business standards, practices, procedures, and product / program requirements. This work would include mechanical engineering for all products / Components
• Develop specialized knowledge in Blade Components Function. Serves as best practice/quality resource. Has awareness of latest technical developments in own area. Contributes towards strategy and policy development and ensure delivery within area of responsibility.
• Develop in-depth knowledge of best practices and how own area integrates with others; has working knowledge of competition and the factors that differentiate them in the market
• Uses judgment to make decisions or solve moderately complex tasks or problems in areas of operational/product management, manufacturing, technology or engineering. Takes new perspective on existing solutions. Uses technical experience and expertise for data analysis to support recommendations. Uses multiple internal and limited external sources outside of own function to arrive at decisions.
• Acts as a resource for colleagues with less experience. Technically Lead projects, explains difficult or sensitive information; works to build consensus. Developing persuasion skills required to influence others on topics within field.
• Perform risk assessments and assist teams in developing mitigation strategies to address technical challenges and ensure safe, high-quality products and services.
• Work within a psychologically safe culture of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional growth through coaching & mentoring for controlled title holders and broader engineering team in your discipline.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree from an accredited university or college in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics or related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years working experience in composite component design, composite component testing, or relevant experience.
• In-depth knowledge of composite component design and testing, composite mechanics, composite failure modes analysis, and building-block approach.
• Experienced with composite prototype building.
• Familiar with composite manufacturing.
• Ability and willingness to travel globally up to 20% of the time.

Desired Characteristics

• Postgraduate degree.
• Strong technical expertise in wind blade composite structural components with demonstrated ability to design and own engineering outcomes regarding safety, quality, and fulfillment of customer needs.
• Demonstrated ability to work in manufacturing environment alongside operators and laboratory technicians.
• Experience in statistical analysis, holds APQP Level 2 certifications, and has familiarity with the TRL/MRL processes.
• Experience in complex issue resolution by coordinating cross-functional teams and demonstrating analytical problem-solving skills utilizing tools such as (FMEA), RCA 8D process, etc.
• Knowledge of wind turbine industry standards and regulations as it pertains to wind turbine blade structural components.
• Experience in project management by creating a clear, executable path from high level objectives, and demonstrating operational execution rigor by ensuring the objectives are realized.
• Demonstrated communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely to individuals at all levels of the organization while ensuring transparency and gaining alignment with internal/external stakeholders.