Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wind Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Wind Program Technician is a field-facing technical specialist responsible for the safe operation, inspection, maintenance, commissioning, troubleshooting, and performance optimization of utility-scale wind turbines and associated balance-of-plant equipment. This role combines hands-on mechanical and electrical work at height with condition monitoring, SCADA analysis, preventive and corrective maintenance, safety compliance, and vendor coordination. The ideal candidate brings strong troubleshooting experience, familiarity with OEM turbine systems (e.g., GE, Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, Nordex), GWO/OSHA certifications, and a commitment to continuous improvement and reliability-driven maintenance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wind Turbine Technician I / Apprentice Wind Technician
Electrical or Mechanical Field Technician (distribution or heavy equipment)
Military technical trades (electrical/mechanical/avionics) transitioning to renewables

Advancement To:

Senior Wind Technician / Lead Technician
O&M Supervisor / Site Manager
Reliability Engineer / Asset Performance Engineer
Commissioning Manager or Technical Trainer

Lateral Moves:

SCADA / Control Systems Specialist
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Specialist (wind-focused)
Project / Construction Field Coordinator (wind farm builds)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform scheduled preventive maintenance, inspections, and servicing on wind turbines (nacelle, hub, blades, tower base, yaw and pitch systems) following OEM manuals and company maintenance procedures to ensure asset availability and longevity.
Troubleshoot complex electrical faults in medium-voltage (MV) systems, generators, power converters, transformers and turbine control systems using multimeters, oscilloscopes, and diagnostic software to restore turbine operation quickly and safely.
Execute mechanical diagnostics and repairs including gearbox systems, main bearings, pitch bearings, pitch drives, yaw drives, hydraulic systems, gearboxes, and rotor assemblies; remove/replace components per OEM procedures.
Conduct commissioning, re-commissioning, and performance acceptance tests for new and refurbished turbines: run-up tests, vibration baseline runs, control parameter tuning, and verification of safety interlocks.
Perform blade inspections (visual, rope-access, drone-assisted) and deliver minor blade repairs, leading to detailed defect reports and repair estimates for structural or aerodynamic defects.
Operate and maintain SCADA and supervisory control systems: acknowledge and clear alarms, interpret trending telemetry, implement setpoint adjustments under direction, and verify communications and telemetry integrity.
Perform condition monitoring tasks (vibration analysis, thermography, oil sampling/analysis, acoustic inspections) and interpret results to prioritize corrective actions and schedule targeted repairs.
Execute safe work control (SWC), lockout/tagout (LOTO), and high-voltage switching procedures; isolate circuits and perform HV and LV switching according to written switching orders and HSE protocols.
Conduct confined space entry, rope-access climbs, and work-at-height operations including turbine nacelle and hub access while strictly following fall protection and rescue plans.
Lead complex corrective maintenance events including component change-outs (gearbox, generator, transformer), crane lifts and rigging operations coordinating with third-party contractors and crane crews.
Maintain accurate maintenance records in CMMS (e.g., IBM Maximo, SAP PM, MPulse), create work orders, log labor and materials, and complete post-maintenance reports and shift handovers.
Respond to turbine alarms and perform remote troubleshooting in coordination with remote operations centers; travel to site to perform hands-on repairs when remote resolution is not possible.
Participate in root-cause analysis (RCA) following significant failures, drafting corrective action plans, and proposing design or process changes to reduce recurrence and improve fleet reliability.
Lead or participate in outage and major maintenance campaigns, preparing spares lists, coordinating logistics, and optimizing crew schedules to minimize downtime and O&M cost.
Execute minor electrical installations and wiring upgrades at substation and turbine base, splice MV/LV cables, and perform grounding system inspections to ensure electrical safety and code compliance.
Inspect and maintain balance-of-plant systems: pad-mounted transformers, collection system switching gear, meteorological towers, access roads, fencing, and site drainage systems.
Support warranty, insurance, and end-of-warranty inspection processes by documenting deficiencies, compiling evidence, and communicating findings with OEM partners and asset managers.
Train, mentor, and coach junior technicians in safe work practices, troubleshooting methods, and OEM procedures to build a high-performing field team.
Maintain spare parts inventory control and logistics coordination for critical components, ensuring availability of long lead items and optimizing on-site stock levels.
Execute site-level HSE leadership: pre-job briefings, toolbox talks, permit-to-work issuance, incident reporting, and participation in HSE investigations with recommendations for improvement.
Operate and maintain auxiliary systems including SCADA telemetry nodes, RTUs, GSM/4G modems, fiber links, and backhaul equipment; coordinate with telecom providers for connectivity issues.
Perform on-site meteorological instrumentation maintenance (anemometers, wind vanes, LIDAR/MET mast equipment) including calibration, wiring checks, and data validation for performance analysis.
Support asset performance initiatives by collecting operational data, contributing to turbine availability KPIs, and recommending performance optimization activities (power curve tuning, firmware updates).
Coordinate with procurement and third-party vendors for repair parts, service contracts, and external lift/rigging services, ensuring contractual and quality expectations are met.
Drive or support emergency response for severe weather events, lightning strikes, and post-storm inspections; prioritize safety while returning turbines to service expediently.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc turbine performance and telemetry data requests and exploratory analysis to help operations and asset management teams identify trends and failures.
Contribute to the organization's technical documentation, standards, and continuous improvement initiatives by drafting SOPs, checklists, and lessons-learned reports.
Collaborate with engineering, reliability, and SCADA teams to translate field-observed issues into engineering change requests and firmware updates.
Participate in sprint planning, task tracking, and agile ceremonies where the operations team integrates with reliability/engineering projects.
Assist with training development and delivery for internal crews and contractors on new procedures, safety programs, and equipment upgrades.
Support environmental and regulatory reporting by collecting field evidence and ensuring compliance with permits and local regulations.
Provide technical input into capital project scopes for component upgrades, retrofits, and site improvements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Extensive electrical troubleshooting: MV/LV systems, switchgear, transformers, generators, power electronics, and protective relays.
Mechanical systems proficiency: gearboxes, bearings, hydraulic systems, pitch and yaw mechanisms, and rotor/brake systems.
SCADA and control systems: alarm management, telemetry verification, RTU and PLC basics, and remote diagnostics.
Condition monitoring tools and analysis: vibration analyzers (e.g., SKF, Brüel & Kjær), thermal imaging cameras, oil analysis interpretation, and FFT analysis.
Commissioning and testing: run-up tests, functional tests, phase sequence, insulation testing, and post-maintenance commissioning.
Hands-on rope access/climbing competence and aerial rescue fundamentals; comfortable performing tasks at height in confined and nacelle environments.
Certified high-voltage switching and isolation procedures, with hands-on experience performing LOTO and switch orders.
Proficient with CMMS and field reporting tools (IBM Maximo, SAP PM, MPulse or similar) and basic MS Office/G Suite skills for documentation and reporting.
Familiarity with OEM documentation and service bulletins (Vestas, GE, Siemens Gamesa, Nordex) and the ability to follow OEM torque, lubrication, and overhaul procedures.
Practical crane and rigging coordination experience including load calculations, lift plans, taglines, and sling selection.
Proficient with handheld test equipment: multimeter, clamp meter, insulation tester, oscilloscope, phase rotation meter, and power quality analyzers.
Basic network and communications troubleshooting (GSM/4G telemetry, Ethernet, fiber optics knowledge) for SCADA connectivity issues.
Ability to read and interpret electrical and mechanical schematics, wiring diagrams, and lubrication/maintenance manuals.
Welding, fabrication, and basic mechanical alignment skills (preferred for some roles).
Experience with condition-based maintenance programs and reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) processes.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset and leadership: proactive, communicates risks, enforces safe work practices.
Excellent troubleshooting mindset: systematic, analytical, and able to prioritize under pressure.
Clear verbal and written communication for handovers, reports, and cross-functional collaboration.
Team player who mentors junior staff and coordinates with contractors and vendors effectively.
Time management and organizational skills to juggle site calls, planned outages, and emergency responses.
Adaptability to weather, travel, remote living conditions, and changing shift patterns.
Attention to detail for accurate recordkeeping, inspection notes, and compliance documentation.
Customer-focused attitude when interfacing with asset owners, OEMs, and stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High school diploma or GED with relevant technical trade training (electrical, mechanical, heavy equipment, or industrial maintenance).

Preferred Education:
Associate degree or technical diploma in Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Renewable Energy, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Technology / Electrical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology / Industrial Maintenance
Renewable Energy Technology / Wind Energy Technology
Electronics, Controls, or Instrumentation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:
2–5 years of field maintenance experience in wind energy, heavy industrial, power generation, or related sectors. Entry-level roles may accept strong electrical/mechanical techs with 1–2 years and relevant certifications.

Preferred:
3+ years specifically on utility-scale wind turbines or direct O&M experience; demonstrated history of troubleshooting MV/LV electrical systems, mechanical component replacement, and working at heights.

Certifications and training often expected or preferred: GWO Basic Safety Training (BST), Working at Heights, Manual Handling, First Aid / CPR, Confined Space Entry, IRATA rope access (for rope-access roles), OSHA 10/30, High-Voltage Switching, crane & rigging certification, and any relevant electrical licenses or journeyman qualifications.