Blade Lab Operational Technical Leader

Job Description Summary

The materials and labs team is responsible for developing, characterizing, improving, and validating the materials used to fabricate wind turbine blades. Facilitating the development of materials within the blades lab requires an understanding of facility operations, equipment, and processes. As the technical operations leader within the materials and labs team, you will be responsible for managing the overall infrastructure of the lab and improving and maintaining capabilities of a world class blades development lab.

As a member of this team, you will be performing a critical role in enabling the development of materials and designs for future GE Vernova wind blades by ensuring the efficient operation of the facilities. The technical leader should have a drive to find innovative ways to improve facility capability and ways to develop products. They will contribute to the resolution of field and plant RCA’s by ensuring the lab has appropriate equipment to interrogate specimens.

You will be required to collaborate with design teams, cross-functional teams, and other designated experts. You will need to represent the lab team when participating in or leading cross-functional activities. You should understand the fundamentals of composite material testing and manufacturing methods to better develop the lab into a world class blade development center.

• Manage overall infrastructure of the lab, including utilities, building maintenance and support systems for testing; develop and maintain P&E funding requests as well as support capex proposals.
• Lead conceptual or theoretical activities relating to the development, improvement, and testing of materials and processes undertaken to build, apply, or shape the materials.
• Work closely with design team members to test material solutions that improve the structural capability and manufacturability of GE Vernova wind blades; provide input on test methods needed to validate specific material properties.
• Maintain effective communication with all segments testing within the AMW Blade Lab as well as leadership.
• Work closely with shop technicians to manufacture needed test specimens and in some instances fabricate the specimens personally.
• Act as a resource for colleagues with less experience, explaining information and developing skills to bring team members to consensus around topics within field.
• Lead team on initiatives on continuous improvement across the lab.
• Provide mentoring to all test team members to share knowledge and expertise across multiple disciplines.
• Strive to increase technical, testing, and fabrication capability for minimum business investment where possible; work with test engineers to develop infrastructure and personnel to ensure quality processes are followed.
• Program and operate machining equipment in the fabrication and preparation of fixtures and test specimens as needed.
• Lead and execute testing as needed to maintain schedule requirements or any emergent work as necessary.
• Promote a strong EHS culture in the lab.

• Bachelor’s of Science degree.
• Minimum 10 years working with in lab operations.
• Ability and willingness to travel globally up to 5% of the time.

• Experience introducing technology into production facilities.
• Ability and willingness to challenge status quo, without allegiance to past or current practices and technology, to get to the best GE products.
• Experience with facility management and operation.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills. Ability to interact with both senior management and hourly technicians.
• Experience with manufacturing practices using composite materials.
• Proven record of being team oriented and results driven.
• Desire to experiment and prototype new solutions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,…