Wind turbine technician
Help save the planet! Climb wind turbines and use the latest tech to install, maintain and repair them.
About the job
What it's like
A wind turbine technician is an adventurous career choice. You could be working while suspended hundreds of feet in the air – or out at sea.
A wind turbine technician installs, inspects, maintains, operates and repairs wind turbines. They’re able to fix any problem that could cause the turbine to shut down unexpectedly or not operate efficiently. You'll use a mix of technical skills and problem-solving skills in this role. There's also a lot of physical work including climbing, lifting, and working in various positions, sometimes outdoors in different weather conditions.
Becoming a wind turbine technician can involve exciting and varied days at work. You’ll be doing your bit to positively impact the planet and keep Scotland well powered.
Your tasks might include:
installing wind turbine towers on land or at sea
fitting electrical, mechanical and hydraulic equipment
testing turbine blades and control systems
carrying out maintenance work, find faults and repairing them
running safety checks on electrical substations and cables
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- analysing
- reliable
- attention to detail
- observation
- problem solving
- working with technology
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Design and Manufacture
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Engineering Science
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Maths (Mathematics)
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Physics
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Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Automotive
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
University
A degree could be helpful for getting into this job. You could study subjects, such as:
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Renewable Energy Engineering
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you get a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Electrical Engineering
Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Apprenticeship
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Discover Modern Apprenticeships on Apprenticeships.scot.
Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider a GA in areas such as:
Discover GAs on Apprenticeships.scot.
Work
You can become a wind turbine technician through applying directly with an employer or getting an entry level job and working your way up. You can use the My World of Work job search to look for job vacancies.
You can take a City and Guilds course in wind turbine technology and maintenance at Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway, and Fife colleges. From there, you could move onto further study at college or university.
Trainee roles
You can become a wind turbine technician by applying for a paid trainee role, where you learn on the job without needing previous experience. You can use the My World of Work job search to look for trainee roles.
Having transferrable skills from another industry, such as engineering or construction can also be useful.
There are also distance learning courses that do not need any previous skills or experience, including The Renewables Energy Institute course. They also offer other courses for people with relevant qualifications to allow them to work in renewable energy.
For some jobs, you may need to have a full driving licence to travel to different sites.
To work offshore, you may need to pass a medical and an offshore survival course. An example is the Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training Certificate (BOSIET).
You may also need a Global Wind Organisation (GWO) certificate.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Wind turbine technician'
