How to hire a wind turbine engineer

How to hire a wind turbine engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step wind turbine engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a wind turbine engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new wind turbine engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a wind turbine engineer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a wind turbine engineer to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a wind turbine engineer that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of wind turbine engineers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Wind Turbine Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Wind Turbine Engineer	Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.	$33-48
   Team Lead Engineer	A team leads engineer is in charge of spearheading and overseeing the efforts of an engineering team, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Although the duties may depend on one's industry of employment, it typically includes designing and developing systems according to project requirements, setting objectives and construction guidelines, delegating tasks, managing budgets and schedules, and monitoring the workflow, performing corrective measures as needed... Show more	$40-75
   Staff Engineer	Staff engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and inspecting various products, equipment, or structures. These professionals may perform varied duties depending on their specialization that includes overseeing the design and construction of buildings, bridges, sewer systems, and other infrastructure, estimating the financial costs of construction projects, and ensuring compliance with health and safety laws and regulations... Show more	$33-80

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • SCADA
   • Gearboxes
   • Technical Issues
   • Electrical Equipment
   • MW
   • Plant Safety
   • Nuclear Power

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage technical procedures for quality control to comply with ISO laboratory accreditation.
   • Programme wind tunnel control software using LABVIEW
   • Experience with ISO documentation, aviation standards, and FAA procedures.
   • Utilize Solidworks to create finite element meshing of the wind tunnel, and conduct 3-D CFD simulations of the aeromechanics.
   • Utilize proactive and reactive troubleshooting methodologies to support all IP backbone infrastructures.
   • Conduct geotechnical and environmental subsurface investigations.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the wind turbine engineer job description is a good way to get more applicants. A wind turbine engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a wind turbine engineer in Utah may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level wind turbine engineer. Additionally, a wind turbine engineer with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average wind turbine engineer salary

   $83,765yearly

   $40.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level wind turbine engineer salary

   $69,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average wind turbine engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$98,400	$47
   2	California	$94,703	$46
   3	New York	$93,685	$45
   4	New Jersey	$93,173	$45
   5	Massachusetts	$92,197	$44
   6	Washington	$90,363	$43
   7	Colorado	$88,696	$43
   8	Texas	$83,988	$40
   9	Iowa	$71,208	$34

   Average wind turbine engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Enbridge	$108,325	$52.08	3
   2	BP America Inc	$107,351	$51.61	3
   3	Shell Trading	$98,696	$47.45	1
   4	General Electric	$90,069	$43.30	168
   5	Shell Energy North America	$88,235	$42.42
   6	Workrise	$88,152	$42.38
   7	*n/a*	$88,032	$42.32	7
   8	Constellation Energy Partners	$87,897	$42.26	14
   9	Alliant Energy	$86,057	$41.37	22
   10	B & P Enterprises	$85,498	$41.10	4
   11	Leeward Corporation	$78,040	$37.52	1

4. Writing a wind turbine engineer job description

   A wind turbine engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a wind turbine engineer job description:

   Wind turbine engineer job description example

   We are committed to building a workplace where everyone feels heard and respected, and extending our culture of care so that every individual can reach their full potential. We want you to have a sense of belonging and feel valued for your contributions and the perspectives you bring.
   
   **Summary:** The Wind Turbine Engineer is a crucial part of the successful delivery of wind generation power projects and is responsible for providing technical advice on wind turbine technology during the development and procurement phases of projects. The Wind Turbine Engineer is responsible for the agreement of the technical content of the Turbine Supply Agreement (TSA). During contract execution, the Wind Turbine Engineer provides technical advice to the procurement and construction teams.
   **Requirements:**
   
   + Provides advice to development, construction, and procurement teams in relation to turbine parameters (dimensions and power rating for layout design, permits, land options, interconnection applications, etc.), construction schedule, project design, work plans, and troubleshooting.
   
   + Assesses suitability of proposed turbines from the standardized tools for the project site conditions and assists in maximizing project value and the likelihood of realization by identifying potential engineering risks.
   
   + Contributes to the procurement strategy for the project in relation to the turbine selection, commercial evaluation, and technical risks/opportunities, with direct responsibility for the technical aspects.
   
   + Works with the wider Engineering teams to ensure engineering requirements in the TSA are understood and incorporated into all design activities
   
   + Leads technical interface with equipment suppliers and communicates project requirements through standardized request forms. Responsible for all preparation and negotiation of the technical content of the turbine supply and service contacts in accordance with the technical standard documents agreed with WTG panel suppliers. This will include project specific documentation where required (e.g. climatic conditions, turbine options) and where project specific solutions would optimize value in the construction and / or operation phases (e.g: foundation loads, wind turbine SCADA solutions, minimum power and acoustic performance requirements)
   
   + Identifies and implements cost saving ideas relating to the wind turbine works and interfaces that add value to the project through engagement with the Turbine Supplier while maintaining records of same
   
   + Participates in template and procedure development.
   
   + Manages continuous improvement with supplier and construction team to ensure all value is captured and applied to the next projects.
   
   + Liaises with Wind Turbine Engineers in other regions to share and gain knowledge, information, and ideas that will deliver increased value to projects.
   
   + Adopts and develops lean processes that deliver project objectives and reduce waste within the project delivery teams and wider organization, feeding back to Strategic Procurement and global technical teams as appropriate to standardize any proposed change.
   
   + Sites visits and assessment of Wind Turbine supply/function
   
   + Leads meetings
   
   + Presents design details through meetings, presentations, and design documentation.
   
   + Performs accurate and rigorous engineering evaluation and calculation to support projects.
   
   + Climbs towers to facilitate construction support and troubleshooting
   
   + Presents supports, and leads-by-example with safety and quality-oriented attitude.
   
   + Follows safety and security procedures and determines appropriate action. Reports potentially unsafe conditions and uses materials and equipment properly.
   
   **Qualifications:**
   
   + 6+ years of relevant experience on large-scale wind generation projects
   
   + Wind turbine technology and associated SCADA systems
   
   + Experience with utility-scale power/energy systems
   
   + Ability to travel 5-15%
   
   + Knowledge of processes to manage the safety and quality of works during wind turbine manufacture, delivery, installation, energization, commissioning, testing, and operation
   
   + Ability to work independently and maintain a schedule for key deliverables
   
   + Negotiation skills and ability to influence decisions in order to deliver agreement on technical documentation.
   
   + Commercial awareness and ability to identify the commercial impact of technical issues.
   
   + Ability to gain the qualification to work at height
   
   + The ability to work as part of a diverse, international, team, (including leading on turbine matters), influencing decisions and reacting positively to challenges as the project evolves.
   
   **Anticipated base salary range:** $85,000 - $108,000
   
   The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. This position is bonus eligible.
   
   **Physical requirements and environment:**
   
   The work environment and physical demands characteristics are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
   
   This position involves Heavy Work: exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
   
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, feel, lift and grab; reach with hands and arms; push and pull; climb and balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl; talk, see clearly and hear. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.
   
   We maintain a drug-free workplace. Candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment background investigation and drug test as a condition of employment.
   
   RES is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
   
   ReqID:
   REQ-3028

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find wind turbine engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any wind turbine engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level wind turbine engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your wind turbine engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit wind turbine engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with wind turbine engineer candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new wind turbine engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the wind turbine engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new wind turbine engineer first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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