Principal Wind Blade Engineer

NextEra Energy•Palm Beach Gardens, FL

About The Position

NextEra Energy Resources is one of America’s largest wholesale electricity generators, harnessing diverse energy sources to power progress. We deliver tailored energy solutions that fuel economic growth, strengthen communities, and help customers achieve their energy goals. Ready to make a lasting impact? Take the next step in your career with us! Position Specific Description This Principal Engineer provides enterprise-level technical leadership for wind turbine blade systems to support company targets for equipment reliability, availability, and lifecycle cost optimization. The role serves as a recognized technical authority within the organization and externally, operating with broad latitude for independent judgment on highly complex and high-impact blade and composite material issues. Employees in this role have responsibility for defining, interpreting, and leading engineering work of exceptional scope and complexity. Assignments require exploration of advanced subject matter, definition of ambiguous or novel problem statements, development of innovative engineering concepts, and establishment of technical direction that impacts multiple sites or fleet-wide programs. Job OverviewEmployees in this role make decisions and recommendations having significant impact on extensive engineering and related activities for the company. This position negotiates critical and controversial issues with top level engineers and officers of other organizations and companies.

Requirements

Bachelor's - Engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program
Experience: 6+ years

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated expertise in wind turbine blade systems and composite materials
Proven ability to lead engineering work with broad organizational impact and minimal oversight
Extensive experience with wind turbine blade inspection, repair, failure analysis, and troubleshooting
Experience within the wind energy industry supporting large, geographically diverse fleets
Demonstrated experience influencing fleet-level engineering strategy or standards
Prior experience providing technical leadership or mentorship (no direct people management required)

Responsibilities

Serves as principal technical authority for wind turbine blade systems and composite materials across the fleet.
Acts as lead technical liaison to internal and external stakeholders with responsibility to act independently on critical blade engineering matters.
Plans, develops, and leads engineering programs concerned with unique or unprecedented technical challenges that significantly impact major company initiatives.
Establishes and maintains engineering standards, methodologies, and best practices related to blade inspection, repair, modification, and life extension.
Leads root cause investigations and resolution of high-risk blade events, systemic defects, and emerging technology issues.
Provides final technical recommendations on blade-related decisions with significant operational, safety, or financial impact.
Supports planning, analysis, design, and implementation of fleet-wide modification, upgrade, and reliability improvement programs.
Negotiates and resolves critical technical issues with OEMs, external engineering firms, insurers, and senior leadership.
Mentors and provides technical guidance to senior and mid-level engineers; supports development of engineering capability within the blade discipline.
Champions engineering rigor, quality processes, and continuous improvement across blade-related programs.
Demonstrates a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding extensive engineering programs and activities
Manages one or more programs of complex diversity and scope which are of critical importance to overall company objectives
Acts as a subject matter expert
Performs other job-related duties as assigned