Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wind Farm Program Technician

🎯 Role Definition

A Wind Farm Program Technician is a field-based maintenance and operations specialist responsible for executing preventive and corrective maintenance on wind turbines and associated balance-of-plant equipment, supporting program-level reliability and safety initiatives, and ensuring compliance with site procedures, environmental regulations, and client contractual requirements. This role combines hands-on mechanical and electrical troubleshooting, data-driven reliability work, and cross-functional coordination with operations, engineering, and safety teams to maximize turbine availability and minimize operational costs.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wind Turbine Technician / Wind Tech I
Field Maintenance Technician (mechanical or electrical)
Apprentice Electrician or Industrial Mechanic

Advancement To:

Senior Wind Farm Technician / Lead Technician
Site Supervisor or O&M Shift Lead
Wind Farm Reliability Technician / Reliability Engineer
Asset Manager or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

SCADA/Controls Technician
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform scheduled preventive maintenance and condition-based inspections on wind turbines, generators, gearboxes, blades, yaw systems, and auxiliary systems following manufacturer procedures and site-specific preventive maintenance plans to maximize asset availability.
Diagnose and troubleshoot complex mechanical and electrical failures on turbine nacelles, hubs, and towers using schematics, wiring diagrams, multimeters, and diagnostic tools to restore safe operation with minimal downtime.
Execute corrective maintenance tasks including replacement of bearings, hydraulic components, pitch and yaw motors, power electronics modules, and control boards, ensuring all repairs meet OEM specifications and warranty requirements.
Conduct detailed blade inspections and minor blade repairs (leading edge erosion repair, protective coatings, fastener replacement) and coordinate specialized blade repair crews for larger defects requiring rope access or nacelle-based lifts.
Carry out SCADA system monitoring, remote troubleshooting, and basic configuration changes to support turbine performance investigations and to capture operational data necessary for root cause analysis.
Complete pre-lift, crane, and heavy-lift coordination for component change-outs, prepare lift plans, and serve as qualified signaler or lift coordinator in accordance with site and OSHA guidelines.
Perform generator and powertrain checks, including vibration analysis, oil sampling and analysis, thermography, and bearing inspections; record findings in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
Use CMMS (e.g., IBM Maximo, SAP PM, Infor EAM) to create, update, and close work orders, document detailed repair steps, parts used, time on task, and root cause analysis to support continuous improvement and spare parts forecasting.
Follow and enforce site-specific safety policies, confined space entry procedures, fall protection and rescue plans, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) practices to maintain a zero-harm work environment for team members and contractors.
Participate in daily operations meetings, shift handovers, and cross-disciplinary troubleshooting sessions to ensure consistent communication of turbine status, outstanding work, and safety issues across operations and maintenance teams.
Conduct quality assurance inspections after maintenance activities to validate repairs, verify torque values, check alignment and clearances, and ensure all readings and calibration values meet technical standards before returning equipment to service.
Assist in commissioning and decommissioning activities for turbines and balance-of-plant systems, including component installation, system checks, and final acceptance testing with OEM representatives or site engineers.
Execute emergency response and rapid repair tasks during fault conditions, severe weather events, or grid disturbances to stabilize the plant and minimize energy production losses.
Maintain and manage inventory of critical spare parts, consumables, and tooling; recommend replenishment or stocking level adjustments based on failure trends and lead times to reduce AOG (Aircraft On Ground)-like downtime impacts.
Support reliability improvement programs by collecting failure data, participating in root cause analysis (RCA) workshops, and implementing corrective actions or modification kits to reduce repeat failures and warranty claims.
Mentor junior technicians and apprentices on safe climbing procedures, correct use of PPE, technical troubleshooting, and documentation practices to build a highly capable field crew.
Coordinate with electrical utilities, grid operators, and third-party contractors for outages, reclosures, and interconnection testing, ensuring compliance with grid codes and site contractual obligations.
Operate and maintain balance-of-plant equipment such as substations, transformers, collection systems, meteorological stations, and site access roads to sustain overall farm reliability.
Ensure environmental compliance by following spill prevention, erosion control, and wildlife protection protocols while performing field activities and reporting any environmental incidents promptly.
Use condition monitoring tools (e.g., vibration analyzers, ultrasonic detectors, infrared cameras) to identify early signs of component degradation and schedule proactive maintenance to avoid catastrophic failures.
Implement continuous improvement initiatives by documenting non-conformances, proposing process changes, and assisting with pilot projects for predictive maintenance technologies like machine learning-based anomaly detection.
Maintain accurate, timely, and professional communications with clients and stakeholders regarding repair timelines, technical findings, and recommended courses of action to preserve contractual relationships and transparency.

Secondary Functions

Assist the Reliability and Engineering teams with data collection for failure mode trend analysis, life-cycle cost modeling, and spare parts optimization projects.
Participate in training delivery by supporting simulator exercises, toolbox talks, and competency assessments for new hires and seasonal staff to ensure consistent technical standards.
Support administrative program tasks such as timesheet verification, certification record maintenance, and subcontractor performance tracking to ensure compliance with corporate governance and client requirements.
Help develop and refine site-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs), maintenance checklists, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) forms based on field observations and OEM updates.
Contribute to continuous safety improvement programs by reporting near-misses, suggesting mitigations, and participating in incident investigations to reduce recurrence.
Provide on-call coverage rotation for after-hours troubleshooting and emergency repairs as needed, ensuring rapid response capability for critical turbine faults.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wind turbine mechanical systems maintenance and repair (gearboxes, yaw/pitch systems, drivetrain components).
Wind turbine electrical systems troubleshooting (generators, power converters, switchgear, transformers).
SCADA system operation and basic fault diagnosis for turbine controllers and data acquisition systems.
Experience with condition monitoring techniques: vibration analysis, oil analysis, infrared thermography, and ultrasonic testing.
Proficiency with CMMS platforms (e.g., IBM Maximo, SAP PM, Infor EAM) for work order management and parts tracking.
Crane and heavy lift coordination, rigging, and lift-plan execution compliant with OSHA and site-specific regulations.
Rope access, aerial lift, and tower climb experience with appropriate rescue training and certifications.
Familiarity with PLCs, inverter/drive troubleshooting, and electrical schematics.
Basic welding, fabrication, and mechanical alignment skills for in-field repairs.
Competence with hand and power tools, precision measuring instruments, and torque tools for mechanical assemblies.
Fall protection systems use and inspection, confined space entry and rescue, and lockout/tagout (LOTO) protocols.
Knowledge of environmental and wildlife protection practices relevant to wind farm operations.
Ability to interpret OEM technical manuals, electrical diagrams, and service bulletins.

Soft Skills

Strong safety mindset with proactive hazard recognition and mitigation.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional reporting and client interaction.
Problem solving and analytical thinking to isolate root causes and propose cost-effective fixes.
Team orientation with experience working in small, mobile crews and multi-vendor environments.
Time management and prioritization skills in a high-tempo field operations context.
Attention to detail for accurate documentation, torque verification, and inspection reporting.
Adaptability to work in variable weather, remote locations, and rotating schedules.
Leadership potential to coach junior technicians and lead small repair crews.
Customer-focused attitude when representing the operating company on site and in client discussions.
Continuous improvement mindset with openness to new tools, data approaches, and predictive maintenance technologies.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with vocational training or trade school coursework in electrical or mechanical trades.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or diploma in Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Renewable Energy Technology, or completion of a Wind Turbine Technician certification program.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electromechanical Technology
Electrical Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Renewable Energy / Wind Energy Technology
Industrial Maintenance / Millwright

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2 to 5 years of hands-on industrial or field maintenance experience; minimum 1–2 years preferred in wind turbine or heavy rotating equipment maintenance.

Preferred:

3+ years of experience as a Wind Turbine Technician or equivalent experience maintaining large rotating electrical machines, with documented competency in tower climbs, SCADA troubleshooting, and CMMS usage. Experience supporting reliability programs, root cause analysis, and heavy-lift operations is highly desirable.