News

October 4, 2021

Employment Opportunity - Wind Systems Junior Engineer/Researcher

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan), located in North Cape, PEI, is a not-for-profit research organization that has been advancing the development of wind energy across Canada through research, testing, innovation, and collaboration since 1981.

WEICan owns and operates a Wind R&D Park that features five 2 MW wind turbines, a 109 kW photovoltaic array, and a 111.5 kW/223 kWh battery energy storage system.

Reporting to the Scientific Director, the Wind Systems Junior Engineer/Researcher is responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing operation of testing and technology development projects. The Engineer/Researcher is responsible for working with data and data analysis, using analytical software tools, to support WEICan operations and client projects. The Engineer/Researcher will also support the designing, implementing, testing, and monitoring of WEICan’s wind energy measurement and data management systems.

Principle Responsibilities and Accountability:

• Assist in the development and execution of operations and research programs involving the Wind R&D Park in accordance with current best practices and industry findings.
• Support implementation, configuring, commissioning, and troubleshooting of measurement and data acquisition and data management systems.
• Maintain current knowledge of Wind R&D Park turbine operation and control systems.
• Perform ongoing data quality analysis, including longer-term data analysis using WEICan data in accordance with standards such as IEC and NERC.
• Collaborate in the writing of academic papers with researchers and present findings at conferences. Prepare presentations for others within the Institute. Prepare equipment documentation procedures, troubleshooting, service, and technical reports and present technical results.
• Assist wind turbine technicians with field work including turbine inspections, troubleshooting, scheduled/unscheduled maintenance, meteorological tower, and small turbine work.
• Remain current with information on technical trends, research, applications, and effective practices related to the wind energy, photovoltaic, and energy storage industries.
• Interface with project team and management to understand project and corporate deliverables to execute work in appropriate and timely manner.
• Organize and participate in safety related training and the Institute’s safety responsibilities.
• Mentor students and interns working with WEICan.
• Liaise with contractors, suppliers, and utility grid operators.
• Work with sensitive and confidential information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Training:

• Undergraduate degree in engineering, computer science, or science/technology. Graduate degree is an asset.
• College diploma with appropriate experience in electrical and instrumentation design, industrial automation and implementation may also be considered.

• General exposure to the renewable energy industry.
• Understanding of the electricity grid.  
• Experience in digital control and data acquisition systems, such as SEL’s RTAC; protection relays; and automation and SCADA platforms, such as VTS and Ignition.
• Experience programming and configuring data logging systems and analysis computations such as via LabVIEW or Campbell Scientific’s LoggerNet.
• Research experience.
• Experience in project management.
• Knowledgeable in CSA, CEC, and the IEC wind turbine standards. 
• Experience with instrumentation and signal wiring, low voltage electrical wiring standards.
• Experience with meteorological field instrumentation.
• Experience with storing and analyzing large amounts of data.
• Knowledge of wind power production technologies.
• Functional knowledge of AutoCAD including preparing basic electrical drawings, interpreting drawings and extracting relevant information.·      
• Knowledge of computer systems, data communication systems and software, including Microsoft Office, OPC servers, and OSIsoft PI system.
• Ability to climb wind turbines and perform maintenance on turbine control systems.
• Ability to work independently.Ability to work with sensitive and confidential information.
• Excellent communications skills: interpersonal, listening, oral, written, and presentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization.

Working conditions:

• The position primarily involves work in an office environment.  Some field work will be involved in support of technical projects both at WEICan and remotely.  Field work may include climbing wind turbine towers and wind monitoring towers.
• The position requires intermittent travel.  Candidate must be able to hold a passport.
• Candidate must be able to maintain a valid Driver’s License.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required.
  
• The position requires flexible work hours.
• Work location is North Cape, PE

To be considered for this position, please email a resume and cover letter to marianne.rodgers@weican.ca with Wind Systems Junior Engineer/Scientist in the subject line.

Deadline: October 25, 2021 

WEICan supports diversity and inclusion is its employment practices.