Description
A mechanical technician is responsible for the maintenance, operation, servicing, testing and repair of offshore wind turbines and associated infrastructure. This includes troubleshooting of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems.
Lifecycle stages
Installation, operations and maintenance.
Typical employer
Developer, EPCI contractor and specialist consultancies.
Place of work
Onshore at the port, construction, and assembly site. Offshore in a vessel at the wind farm site.
Typical working pattern
Full-time or fixed term contract. At far-shore projects, mechanical technicians usually live offshore on vessels and typically work two-weeks-on/two-weeks-off. Flexible working arrangements may be available for onshore based jobs.
Education, training and qualifications
Technical training or certification, minimum NFQ level 7, in electrical, mechanical, marine engineering, maintenance or similar is required. Experience (3 years) with electrical or mechanical systems in related fields.
Graduate and apprenticeship schemes are available at NFQ level 7 and NFQ level 3.
For offshore work, the following is required (may be provided by the employer):
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Seafarers Offshore Medical
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Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), and
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Global Wind Organisation Basic Safety Training.
Typical entry position & transferable sectors
Entry roles can include wind turbine technician, assistant mechanical technician and safety technician.
Highly transferable from similar industries such as construction, aviation maritime.
Career possibilities
Mechanical technicians can progress to become senior mechanical technicians, quality control managers, mechanical engineers or in a specialism such as a hydraulic engineer.
Full time salary estimate
€35,000 (turbine technician) -€70,000 (hydraulic engineer) per year, depending on experience.
