Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow? A position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for. The below job summary and responsibilities reflect the staff engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the senior and principal engineer levels. This is a hybrid role with three days in the office and two days remote. Up to 25% travel, with options for using a company vehicle or submitting mileage for reimbursement. Position Summary The Renewables Reliability Engineering team is responsible for elevating the reliability and availability of renewable energy systems while optimizing costs. The team leverages technical expertise, innovative engineering practices, data-driven insights and teamwork to deliver resilient, safe, and cost-effective solutions, resulting in operational excellence across the wind, solar, and battery storage portfolio. We are seeking a highly skilled Wind Reliability Engineer to join our team. The role involves supporting substation maintenance, outages, and reliability improvement programs. Develop and apply wind turbine electrical and control subsystem expertise to an expanding fleet of wind farms across our three service territories. This individual will provide operational and performance engineering support for a 4GW+ fleet of Vestas, GE, and Siemens wind turbines. Willingness to occasionally climb wind turbines for educational and small project purposes is desired. This role will require occasional on-call availability to support plant outage troubleshooting and restoration. Familiarity with component failure rate calculations and other reliability engineering concepts is strongly preferred. In this role you will have the opportunity to: • Perform complex problem solving of technical issues to reduce equipment downtime. Equipment includes wind turbine subsystems, 34.5kV – 345kV substations, and 34.5kV underground collection system equipment • Quantify equipment risk and develop corrective action plans to mitigate risk • Analyze equipment failure rates, failure causes, and risk trends to prioritize maintenance and future investments • Ensure implementation and optimization of equipment maintenance strategies • Define critical spare parts strategy based on failure modes, asset criticality and failure history • Perform root cause analysis and identify corrective action plans to prevent repeat failures. • Provide technical and operational insights to influence new equipment design specifications • Participate in industry networking and research new technologies to improve equipment reliability • Leverage software and analytics to streamline processes and improve efficiency. Under general direction, demonstrates complete understanding & wide application of engineering technical principle, theories, & concepts in the field. Independently determines & develops approaches to solutions. Receives technical guidance on complex problems; completed work reviewed for adequacy in meeting objectives. May lead small-medium non-critical projects or critical projects under direction of higher-level engineer/supervisor. May provide work direction to other professionals &/or staff. Represents the organization in providing solutions to difficult technical issues associated with specific projects. Frequent inter-organizational & outside customer contact. Demonstrates a broad knowledge & proficiency of precedents in the specialty area, a good knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines. Essential Responsibilities • Uses & applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, & techniques to perform activities/assignments that may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional materials or methods & difficult coordination requirements. • Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.) Utilizes & may assist with the development of procedures requiring a broad knowledge & proficiency in a specialty area & has a general knowledge of related disciplines. • Works under the general direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor for routine engineering projects. Provide ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, testing/diagnostics & Regulatory. • May provide field engineering oversight &/or direction for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections, etc. • May lead small-medium, non-critical projects. Coordinate/leads critical projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation & commissioning), under the direction of a higher-level engineer or supervisor. Work reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives. • Under the direction of a higher-level engineer/supervisor supports bid/evaluation processes including preparation of bid documents, completion of technical evaluations for proposals; provide recommendations for selection, etc. Partners & communicates with areas such as Supply Chain & Legal following appropriate processes. • Frequently exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance & complexity both inter-organizationally & with outside customers. • May assign tasks & coordinate work of interns, drafters, technicians, craft personnel &/or others. Provide guidance & mentoring to less experienced engineers. Responsible for continuous self-development of technical skills & competencies. • Performs activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects. Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $79,800-$103,666) Minimum Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, electrical engineering degree preferred. • 2+year's relevant engineering experience. Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines. • Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization. • EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred. Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $94,600-$126,134) Minimum Requirements • Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred. • 5+ years relevant engineering experience EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required. • Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization. • Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need. Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $109,300-$152,766) Minimum Requirements • Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred. • 9+ years relevant engineering experience • PE (Professional Engineer) registration required. • Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization. Preferred Requirements for All Levels • Project Management experience • Knowledge of Wind Turbines • Experience in Electric Controls and Computer Networking • Experience with Substation Relays • Familiarity with Transformers, Generators, and NERC Compliance Activities (a plus) As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. Non-Bargaining The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $79,800.00 to $152,766.00 per year This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part. In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information. Deadline to Apply: 08/21/25 EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF) ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
See More Details >>PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: • Promote and comply with all Company and safety policies and procedures. • Work in and around wind turbines. • Install, reinstall, repair, service, test, and other required tasks to maintain wind turbine components. • Provide technical support to troubleshoot and repair basic and complex wind turbine related malfunctions. • Climb multiple wind towers on a daily basis. • Professionally interact with customers and coworkers on a daily basis. • Provide technical support and guidance to assure product quality and conformance. • Perform onsite audits of procedures and field processes and drive change as necessary. • Demonstrate safety and quality as a top priority and make sure other team members, Owner/Client Representatives, subcontractors, vendors, and management are following the safety policies. • Train and instruct crew members in safe work practices for the assigned tasks. Be a mentor. • Lead and involve the crew in Pre-Task Plan (PTP) creation and review. • Stop any work at any time if at-risk behaviors are observed by crewmen. Encourage crew members to work with the same mentality. • Create standard work procedures and processes. • Create work procedures related to turbine manufacturer specific requirements. • Monitor project progress and quality. • Follow written procedures as designed. • Allocate crew time to address rework if needed. • Fill out all required project related reports. • Keep all records, paperwork and reports in a neat and organized manner. • Communicate to all levels of the project team. • Set goals for crews (daily/weekly/monthly/project). • Preplan daily activities to eliminate confusion and downtime. • Install, inspect, maintain, operate, and repair wind turbines. • Diagnose and fix any problem that could cause the turbine to be shut down unexpectedly or fail to operate properly. • Climb towers to inspect, troubleshoot, or repair turbine equipment. • Perform routine maintenance on wind turbines. • Test electrical components and systems, as well as mechanical and hydraulic systems. • Troubleshoot mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical malfunctions. • Service underground transmission systems, wind field substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems • Replace worn or malfunctioning components. • Use a multi-meter. • Send detailed daily reports and keep an ongoing inventory of tooling and consumable products. • Lead a crew of up to (20) Wind Turbine Technician I/II. • Understand project scope and schedule to keep the project on track to complete within the specific project stated parameters. • Assume responsibilities of Field Operations Manager as needed. • Other duties as assigned. EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: • High school diploma or equivalent. • Must possess an active Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) or have the ability to obtain a TWIC Card. • Minimum eight (8) years’ experience working in and around wind turbine, specifically for troubleshooting and preventative maintenance, or two (2) years’ experience and degree or certificate. • Technical 2 or 4-year degree or certificate related to mechanical maintenance, wind energy, mechanical engineering or related preferred. • Valid Driver’s License. (CDL Preferred). • Uptower Gearbox Repair Team Only: NCCCO Rigger and Signal Person certified, or ability to obtain certification within six (6) months of hire. PREFERRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: • Strong attention to detail and ability to follow directions with precise execution. • Basic computer operation skills and familiarity with internet-based program navigation. • Ability to read, interpret and understand basic drawings and schematics. • Ability to use hydraulic tension and torque tooling. • Ability to demonstrate basic industrial safety practices / protocols including LOTO. • Experience using basic power and hydraulic tools. • Knowledge of entering and exiting the rotor. This includes locking out the rotor. • Knowledge of using the internal chain hoist. • Ability to climb stairs and ladders up to 125 meters in height. • Certifications in rigging and signaling from a Nationally recognized organization is preferred, but not required. • Able to work in demanding physical and inclement weather conditions. • Comfort working remotely in a turbine as part of a team with limited supervisory interaction. • Able to maintain certifications required to perform the work, including but not limited to: First Aid / CPR, Tower Climb and Rescue, LOTO, Arc Flash, Confined Space Entry etc. • Take reasonable care of your own and others’ health and safety and of those who may be affected in the day-to-day delivery of this role by taking personal responsibility for working to Zero Injury principles. • Read, analyze and interpret technical procedures, reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. • Write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals. • Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers. • Add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. • Common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. • Deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations. Benefits and Pay: • Paid Company Holidays • Paid Time Off • We provide paid sick leave as required by Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act. • Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Short Term/Long Term Disability, 401K with matching contribution. • $36 - $41 per hour, dependent on experience, qualifications, and competencies.
See More Details >>We are seeking a Control Center Operator II to support operations for renewable energy projects. As an Operator II, you will work from our state-of-the-art control center to remotely monitor and manage renewable energy plants. Your primary responsibility will be to quickly identify and respond to equipment issues to minimize downtime and maximize plant performance. Using advanced SCADA systems, you will control turbines, inverters, and other critical equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and continuous plant operations while adhering to industry standards and regulations. Responsibilities: • Complete applicable safety program training requirements per the IIPP annually. Read, understand, and apply information such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. • Maintain safe, reliable, and efficient operation by quickly responding to changing conditions in order to maximize availability and generation by operating facilities within all applicable permits, electrical system procedures, contractual obligations, and company objectives. • Visually monitor and read parameters, data points, and sensor outputs at specified intervals to verify operating conditions and to detect faults and malfunctions. • Monitor data such as weather conditions including wind speed, direction, turbulence, irradiance, storms, or equipment temperatures, voltage, current, power, and VARs. • Ensure quality and accuracy of real-time generation information being telemetered to RTO/ISO and take actions to correct abnormalities. • Ensure asset, meteorological, and substation data integrity for internal databases used for reporting purposes and by external entity’s real-time operations. • Develop and implement effective strategies to maximize the generating assets value by capturing profit opportunities when possible. • Use OEM or Enterprise SCADA (Original Equipment Manufacturer Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) to adjust plant control setpoints such as active and reactive power of the company’s generating units. • Maintain understanding of the compliance requirements where owned and third-party assets are located. • Perform diagnostic analysis of operating data to assess operating performance and make recommendations for improvement. • Adjust manual controls or verify automatic controls to bring equipment into recommended or prescribed operating ranges, based on utility/ISO/customer requirements. Accurately change control equipment setpoints. • Record operation actions taken during shift in operator's logbook or other automated logging mechanisms. • Anticipate typical problems, identify potential or recurring problems, discover opportunities for improvements, and take appropriate action. • Proficient in operating computers, the OCC’s Integrated SCADA system, and all other plant SCADA systems used in monitoring and controlling plant operations. • Use weather information from weather services and interconnected companies to respond to load demand changes as directed through curtailment orders and outage directives. • Ensure compliance to all regulatory and contractual requirements through adherence to all operational procedures, processes, and policies. • Coordinate with regional personnel and system operators from other companies on matters pertaining to customer problems or demands. Utilize accurate and efficient three-way communication skills on inbound and outbound telephone conversations. • Assist maintenance teams to troubleshoot problems and ascertain probable cause. • Direct electrical substation switching using a detailed understanding of the Company’s electrical switching practices. • Supervise OCC Operators in the absence of supervisory personnel, and provide direction and advice to Operators on technical issues relating to system performance and operation. • All other duties as assigned. Job Requirements: • Must possess and maintain NERC Balancing and Interchange Certification or be able to attain certification within 12 months. • 5+ years of experience in power system operations, power production, or related energy operations. Military or maritime background is an asset. • Thorough knowledge of power theory, power plant equipment, maintenance practices, and principles of operation. • Understanding of power plant operation and control highly desired. Knowledge of NERC operating policies is a plus. Ability to train for and become NERC certified is a desired advancement path. • Must be able to work other shifts as required, including overtime, rotating shifts, holidays, and weekends as necessary. Experience in 24/7 work settings preferred. • Associate’s Degree in a technical or relevant discipline required; Bachelor’s degree preferred. • Proficient computer skills with ability to learn and use MS Office suite programs, unique plant SCADA systems, and network/communication systems to identify plant interconnectivity issues. • Excellent interpersonal communication skills, both verbal and written, with demonstrated ability to follow instructions diligently. • Strong analytical skills to process information timely and accurately. Math skills sufficient to complete required job functions. • Able to maintain confidentiality, be detail-oriented and disciplined, and adept at multi-tasking. • Demonstrates good work habits, including excellent attendance and punctuality. • Conducts and presents oneself in a professional manner. Schedule: • Rotating 12-hour shifts • Schedule: 5 days on, 5 days off; then 2 days on, 2 days off • Working every other weekend Compensation: DOE Job Types: Full-time, Contract Pay: From $35.00 per hour Expected hours: 24 – 60 per week Benefits: • Dental insurance • Health insurance • On-the-job training • Vision insurance Work Location: In person, Bloomington, MN
See More Details >>Entering the wind energy sector in Minneapolis, MN, often begins with specialized training and apprenticeships, combining hands-on experience with technical education. These programs typically last about four to five years, providing comprehensive training under experienced professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the wind energy sector employs approximately 3,885,647 workers nationwide, with a median annual wage of $61,770 for wind turbine technicians. In Minneapolis, the average weekly wage for wind energy professionals is around $2,571, with potential for significant earnings as experience grows. Trade schools, industry associations, and platforms like Stream Marine Training offer pathways to apprenticeships, leading to a rewarding career with strong earning potential, often exceeding $108,000 annually for seasoned professionals.
