Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wind Farm Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Wind Farm Technician (also known as Wind Turbine Technician or Wind Turbine Mechanic) is responsible for the safe operation, preventative and corrective maintenance, commissioning, and troubleshooting of onshore and offshore wind turbines and associated balance-of-plant systems. This role requires hands-on mechanical and electrical skills, condition monitoring expertise, strict adherence to safety standards (GWO, fall protection, electrical safety), and the ability to collaborate with operations, engineering and logistics teams to maximize turbine availability and energy production.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Electrical or mechanical apprentice/technician roles in utilities or heavy industry
Field service technician roles (HVAC, industrial machinery, construction)
Military or maritime technical trades with electrical/mechanical experience

Advancement To:

Senior Wind Turbine Technician / Lead Technician
Turbine Maintenance Supervisor / Shift Supervisor
Site Operations Manager / O&M Manager
Specialist roles: Condition Monitoring Engineer, Blade Repair Specialist, Commissioning Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Condition Monitoring / Reliability Engineer
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Specialist for wind sites
Field Trainer / Competency Assessor for GWO and OEM courses

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on wind turbines (nacelle, hub, rotor, gearbox, generator, yaw and pitch systems), including lubrication, alignment, torque checks and component replacement to ensure maximum turbine availability and safe operation.
Conduct detailed inspections and diagnostic testing on electrical systems (low voltage and medium voltage systems, transformers, switchgear, slip rings, power converters) and mechanical systems, recording condition data and recommending corrective actions.
Troubleshoot and repair complex faults in turbine control systems, PLCs, pitch and yaw control units, hydraulic systems, and powertrain components using OEM documentation, wiring diagrams and diagnostic tools to restore generation quickly and safely.
Execute safe work at height and confined space activities, including rope access or climbing nacelles, performing rescue-ready procedures and following GWO rescue and fall protection protocols during maintenance and inspections.
Carry out blade inspections, minor repairs and storm damage assessments including bonding, sanding, sealing, and installation of protective materials while following blade repair best practices and OEM recommendations.
Commission new turbines and retrofit projects: perform pre-commissioning checks, sequence tests, functional verification, SCADA integration, and acceptance tests in coordination with commissioning engineers and OEM teams.
Monitor turbine performance and alarms through SCADA and condition monitoring systems, analyze vibration, oil particle, thermography and trend data, and initiate corrective maintenance or escalation to reliability engineers as needed.
Operate and coordinate the safe use of cranes, hydraulic lifts, MEWPs, hoists and rigging equipment for major component exchanges (gearbox, generator, blade changes), ensuring lift plans, LEEA and crane certifications are followed.
Maintain accurate maintenance records, asset logs, work orders and inspection reports in the CMMS (e.g., Maximo, SAP PM) and ensure all job packs, permits and lockout/tagout procedures are completed and filed.
Execute corrective maintenance tasks including gearbox, generator, yaw bearing, pitch system and control cabinet overhauls, working to OEM repair procedures and warranty requirements while minimizing downtime.
Ensure compliance with statutory electrical safety, working-at-height and site-specific HSE requirements: conduct toolbox talks, complete JSA/PJAs, incident reporting and near-miss investigations, and actively participate in safety audits.
Perform fault diagnostics and root-cause analysis for recurring issues, documenting findings and proposing reliability improvements, spares recommendations and preventive actions to reduce mean time to repair (MTTR).
Support major upgrade projects and retrofits, including hardware and software updates to control systems, SCADA communications, and turbine firmware updates, coordinating closely with project managers and vendors.
Respond to on-call maintenance roster and emergency call-outs for turbine faults, grid disconnections and storm damage, mobilizing with required tools and spares under time-sensitive conditions.
Conduct balance-of-plant (BOP) maintenance and inspections including substation equipment, transformer oil checks, earthing systems, fencing, access tracks and drainage to ensure site integrity and uninterrupted power export.
Mentor and train junior technicians and apprentices in safe working practices, troubleshooting techniques and OEM maintenance procedures, and provide competency assessments in line with company training frameworks.
Participate in condition-based maintenance programs using vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, acoustic emission and other CM tools to prioritize repairs and extend component life.
Coordinate logistics for spares, tools and third-party specialists: prepare job packs, order critical components, and manage vendor relationships for warranty repairs and specialist services.
Implement continuous improvement initiatives to improve maintenance planning, spare-part strategies, and shift handover processes to increase uptime and reduce operational expenditure (OPEX).
Perform site-level administrative tasks such as shift handovers, daily maintenance scheduling, time tracking, PPE inventory checks and ensuring tools & test equipment are calibrated and serviceable.
Maintain professional relationships with grid operators, OEM service teams and landowners, providing regular updates on turbine availability, outage plans and safety permissions.
Ensure environmental and regulatory compliance during maintenance activities, including safe handling and disposal of oils, lubricants and hazardous materials, and management of site environmental protection measures.

Secondary Functions

Support operational data collection for reliability engineering and contribute field insights to root-cause investigations and fleet-wide reliability programs.
Assist with the development and refinement of maintenance procedures, risk assessments and job safety analyses to reflect field realities and improve technician efficiency.
Provide input into inventory forecasting and spare parts rationalization based on observed component failure modes and historical maintenance data.
Occasionally support site-wide project tasks such as access infrastructure upgrades, civil inspections and minor construction activities that impact turbine operations.
Participate in cross-functional meetings (operations, procurement, HSE, engineering) to ensure maintenance priorities align with commercial and safety objectives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proven experience with wind turbine mechanical systems (gearbox, main shaft, yaw/pitch systems, bearings) and hands-on competency in dismantling and re-assembly of drivetrain components.
Strong electrical troubleshooting skills including LV/MV distribution, transformers, switchgear, power converters, generators, and basic HV awareness consistent with local regulations.
Proficient with turbine control systems, PLCs, SCADA platforms, telemetry and fault log analysis to diagnose control and communication issues.
Condition monitoring and diagnostics: vibration analysis, oil particle counting, thermography and trend analysis to support condition-based maintenance strategies.
Blade inspection and repair techniques including bonding, infusion patches, leading/trailing edge repairs, sanding, and use of composite repair materials.
Experience operating cranes, MEWPs, rigging and lift equipment with knowledge of lift plans, LEEA best practices and safe systems of work.
Competency in using CMMS and maintenance reporting tools (e.g., Maximo, IBM, SAP PM, UpKeep), and familiarity with digital inspection tools and mobile reporting apps.
Ability to interpret electrical and mechanical schematics, wiring diagrams, OEM manuals and technical service bulletins for safe repair and commissioning activities.
Basic network and communications knowledge for SCADA/RTU troubleshooting, Ethernet, serial communications, and telemetry troubleshooting.
Proficient with hand and power tools, torque equipment, multimeters, insulation testers, thermal cameras and portable vibration analyzers.
Valid certifications such as GWO (Basic Safety Training & Rescue), MEWP, First Aid, Electrical Linework or electrician license, and relevant manufacturer-specific service training (Vestas/Siemens/GE/Others).
Competence in hazardous materials handling, spill response and environmental protection practices for safe storage and disposal of oils and lubricants.
Experience with hydraulic systems maintenance and troubleshooting including pumps, valves, accumulators and pressure test procedures.
Ability to work within OEM warranty processes and to follow strict documentation/traceability requirements for warranty claims.

(At least 10 technical skills above—combine those with certifications and tools for breadth.)

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and disciplined, safety-first mindset with the ability to follow procedures and checklists consistently.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking to diagnose intermittent faults and propose practical corrective actions.
Effective communication skills for clear shift handovers, incident reporting, and stakeholder coordination with operations and engineering teams.
Team-player attitude with the ability to mentor junior staff and to work collaboratively under pressure during outages and emergencies.
Adaptability and resilience for frequent travel, rotating shifts, on-call duties and working in challenging weather conditions.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize reactive and planned maintenance tasks while minimizing downtime.
Customer/service orientation when liaising with landowners, grid operators and OEM service representatives to maintain professional relationships.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent with trade experience; vocational qualification in electrical or mechanical trades preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree, HND or bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energy Technology or equivalent technical discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Renewable Energy / Wind Technology
Industrial Maintenance / Mechatronics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–5 years as a field technician in wind energy or 3–7 years in electrical/mechanical field service roles with demonstrable turbine or heavy-rotor equipment exposure.

Preferred:

5+ years of direct wind turbine experience, hands-on commissioning, major component exchange experience and a track record of working safely at height and in remote or offshore environments. Relevant manufacturer (OEM) training certificates and up-to-date GWO and rescue qualifications are strongly preferred.