The Asset Inspection Engineer will act as an expert in completing inspections of wind turbines, with a particular focus on drive train components, and support the delivery of safe, efficient, and reliable operation across the portfolio.
You will be field based, working primarily across the UK fleet, but with occasional travel to European windfarms, spending approximately 80% of your time away from home. Your work will support the wider Technical Department and Asset Management teams, by providing expert support on the inspection of Wind Power Plant assets.
Key Responsibilities
- Health & Safety
- Work with Mechanical Engineers and Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental (HSQE) management to achieve the highest level of safety across the portfolio ensuring all relevant industry standards and guidelines are complied with.
- Draft Risk Assessments and Method Statements for inspections and submit to relevant stakeholders for review.
- Inspection
- In conjunction with the Mechanical Engineer (Reliability), respond to condition monitoring system (CMS) alerts by completing the appropriate inspection and testing techniques, working to diagnose faults and ensure no unscheduled major component failures, including but not limited to the following inspection techniques:
- Borescope inspection of gearboxes, main bearings and occasionally generator bearings.
- Lubrication sampling of gearboxes and main bearings.
- Review and assessment of auxiliary systems such as cooling and lubrication.
- Insulation resistance testing of generators.
- Interpreting and classification of defects to relevant IEC standards, communicating findings from inspections verbally and through an iOS/Android application.
- Develop a good knowledge of the CMS systems installed across UK wind farms and act as the technical expert for OEM/ISP teams, providing training and support for CMS system fault finding and remedial works, as necessary.
- Embed best practice with regards to lubrication management and sampling within OEMs and Service Providers across the UK.
- Working with the Mechanical Engineer (Integrity), develop competency in non-destructive testing (NDT) methods such as dye penetrant, magnetic particle and ultrasonic inspection methods for supporting the life extension programmes.
- Complete ad-hoc wind turbine structural inspections in conjunction with the Mechanical Engineer (Integrity) and loads analysis team, to capture relevant mechanical information to enable to reverse engineering of wind turbine structures.
- Projects
- Supporting the development and implementation of Drive Train related Performance Improvement projects.
- Development, implementation and ongoing responsibility for stock management of gearboxes and gearbox sub-components and ancillaries stored within storage locations and vendor workshops.
Competencies & Behaviours
Essential
- Active in taking responsibility for all aspects of the role and overseeing work to completion.
- Adaptable and quick to adjust to new people, equipment and processes.
- Confident and articulate communicator who can explain technical problems to people of all levels of technical knowledge.
- Strong interpersonal skills including both verbal and written communication.
- Flexibility to work away from home during the week.
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Attention to detail and drive for high-quality results.
- Continuous improvement mindset.
- Good level of computing literacy and ability to use mobile phone applications.
Desirable
- Incorporated Engineer status with the Engineering Council
Relevant Experience
- Ability and experience of completing borescope inspections of gearboxes to a high standard.
- Strong understanding and demonstrable experience of working with Wind Power Plant and the associated subsystems and components is essential.
- Experience of climbing wind turbines and working as an AT or AE under the Wind Turbine Safety Rules.
- Demonstrable experience of working in a strict Health and Safety environment.
- Drafting Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
- Understanding of the failure modes associated with wind turbine drive train components, with a particular focus on the gearbox.
- Knowledge and experience of diagnosing gear and bearing defects to the relevant IEC standard.
- Basic understanding of the function of lubrication within rotating components and understanding of lubrication best practice, including lubrication storage and sampling.
Desirable
- Ability and experience of completing insulation resistance testing of generators.
- Experience of completing bearing and gear exchanges within wind turbines.
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Clean drivers’ license
Desirable
- Achieved or working towards Incorporated Engineer status (IEng) with the relevant Engineering Institution.
- GWO Working At Height and First Aid qualifications.
Travel Requirements
- Regular European Travel
- Infrequent UK Travel