Sr manager, wind performance engineering

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Engineering; Operations & Maintenance

Remuneration: Exempt

We are seeking a highly driven and experienced Wind Turbine Engineering Leader with strong communication, leadership, and technical problem-solving skills, combined with a proven background in wind turbine commissioning, field troubleshooting, and operational support. This role will lead a team of turbine engineers responsible for resolving complex technical challenges, improving fleet reliability, and driving performance across our growing onshore wind portfolio throughout the Americas.

The Engineering Leader will play a critical role throughout the turbine lifecycle, from post-construction commissioning and handover through long-term operations. The position will leverage deep technical expertise and field experience to guide the engineering team in diagnosing complex turbine issues, leading root cause investigations, developing corrective actions, and implementing sustainable solutions that directly improve asset performance, reliability, and availability.

This leader will work closely with Operations, Asset Management, Construction, Commissioning, OEMs, and other engineering disciplines to ensure technical issues are effectively identified, prioritized, and resolved. The role will also establish engineering best practices, strengthen technical standards, and ensure lessons learned from field experience are translated into fleet-wide improvements.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of wind turbine engineers supporting the Americas fleet
• Provide technical leadership for complex turbine troubleshooting, failure investigations, and reliability issues
• Lead or oversee root cause analysis (RCA) investigations and ensure corrective actions address the underlying failure mechanisms
• Drive and/or oversee root cause analyses (RCA) for major component failures, translating findings into actionable corrective measures
• Partner with Operations and field teams to translate engineering analysis into practical and effective field solutions
• Establish technical priorities based on risk, availability impact, failure frequency, and operational consequences.
• Provide technical guidance during significant equipment failures, emerging reliability risks, and critical fleet events
• Support long-term strategies to improve availability, reliability, maintainability, and overall asset performance

Job Requirements and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited university
• A minimum of 7 years of experience in wind energy, power generation, or a closely related industry
• Proven experience leading and developing an engineering team, preferably within a renewable energy or power generation environment
• Significant experience supporting turbines through commissioning, field operations, troubleshooting, and long-term fleet reliability
• Knowledge and Application: Leads technical programs across multiple teams and platforms. Develops and implements fleet-wide maintenance and reliability strategies
• Complexity & Problem Solving: Resolves high-impact, cross-functional technical challenges. Anticipates risks, develops mitigation strategies, and drives effective solutions
• Collaboration & Interaction: Engages with senior stakeholders and external partners. Aligns engineering priorities and outcomes with operational and compliance requirements
• Scope of Management & Supervision: Leads one or more teams and is accountable for team performance, staffing, resource allocation, and employee development
• Advanced Troubleshooting: Strong analytical and diagnostic capabilities with the ability to identify failure mechanisms and develop effective solutions through both remote analysis and hands-on field investigation
• Root Cause Analysis Leadership: Proven ability to lead and facilitate structured RCA investigations, challenge assumptions, identify underlying failure mechanisms, and drive sustainable corrective actions
• Wind Turbine & Component Knowledge: Strong understanding of major turbine subsystems and components, including generators, converters, transformers, switchgear, pitch and yaw systems, drivetrain, bearings, hydraulic systems, controls, and associated electrical systems
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to leverage operational data, failure history, condition monitoring, alarms, and fleet performance trends to identify emerging issues and prioritize reliability improvements
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear recommendations for engineers, operations teams, senior leadership, and external stakeholders
• Leadership & Team Development: Demonstrated ability to build high-performing engineering teams, develop technical talent, establish accountability, and foster a culture of collaboration, safety, ownership, and continuous improvement

Work Environment:

Primarily office-based (hybrid 3 days a week) with some travel to wind sites and field operations. Expect hands-on engagement in operational environments, including climbing turbines or working in industrial conditions as needed.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range:

The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois and New York is $170,000 - $180,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 93787

Any questions? Contact rwe_americas_recruiting@rwe.com

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas-powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.