Job Description Summary

As the Lead Engineer of wind blade lightning protection system components, you are responsible for the overall technical underwriting and release of design concepts, specifications, and practices of the high voltage Lightening Protection System (LPS) and Ice Mitigation System (IMS). These systems are co-designed with blade structural components that include spar caps, shells, shear webs, root close out, and other structural components in wind turbine blades. You will support defining rigor for acceptance of the design decisions for wind blade LPS and IMS components that will result in safe, high-quality products and services that meet customer needs and compliance to IEC 61400-24.

You will collaborate with design teams, cross-functional teams and other designated experts across Design, Systems, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing to achieve desired outcomes, sometimes executing the work yourself. You will mentor and develop engineering talent, creating technical depth within the blade structural and electrical component domain.

As a member of the blades lightning protection system components team 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, your capacity to solve technical challenges head-on, and your ownership will drive your success in One Wind Engineering.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

• Model electro physics of high voltage effects on air and insulating materials and direct the path to protect the blade system.
• Lead numerical simulations and statistical analysis to substantiate the mechanical solution. 
• Interpret simulation results to give distinct input to the project, our organization, and Product System management on how to enhance, mature and innovate the LPS area to take our product portfolio to the next step.
• Develop concepts to protect the blade and its systems from lightening.  Involves new designs, modifying current designs, analysis of high voltage and high current tests to comply with IEC standards.  Occasionally work with site specific needs to electrically.
• Support of field quality issues, new product design, new technology design, and repair.
• Accountable for overall technical underwriting of LPS and IMS design concepts, design specifications and practices for wind blade electrical components.
• Develop wind blade electrical 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.
• Collaborates in IP, competitiveness opportunities, & roadmap development across multiple domains, sites, or organizations.  Stay informed and participate in relevant industry regulations and standards committees to influence the outcome of regulations and standards.
• Assist the design team and sometimes execute the optimization of the design of wind blade electrical components ensuring compliance with industry standards, safety regulations, and customer requirements.
• Provide technical support and expertise to internal and external stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities.
• Perform risk assessments and assist teams in developing mitigation strategies to address technical challenges and ensure safe, high-quality products and services.
• Cultivate a psychologically safe culture of collaboration.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Electrical Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in electrical design, composite component testing, or relevant experience.
• Experience with numerical methods being able to develop numerical models in commercial software such as COMSOL, Multiphysics (ABAQUS), or other simulation software for dynamic analysis.
• Expert understanding in the field of electronic systems and lightening protection.
• Strong understanding of theory and experimental high-voltage and high current physics.
• In-depth knowledge of composite component design and testing, composite mechanics, composite failure modes analysis, and building-block approach.
• Familiar with composite manufacturing and knowledge of electric behavior of materials in general.
• Ability and willingness to travel globally up to 20% of the time.

Desired Characteristics

• Master’s degree or PhD studies in related topics.
• Self-motivated and resourceful.  Takes a proactive approach in working/driving tasks with cross-functional project teams.
• 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.
• Experience in statistical analysis, holds APQP Level 2 certifications, and has familiarity with the TRL/MRL processes.
• Knowledge of wind turbine industry standards and regulations as it pertains to wind turbine blade electrical 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.
• Track record of curiosity and a strong passion for identifying and turning new ideas, technologies, and methodologies into product differentiated outcomes.

Additional Information