Job Description Summary

Job Description

The Sr Engineer – Fleet Engineering RCA Leader, Machine Head will own, execute and resolve assigned RCAs related to Machine Head mechanical systems (Main shaft, bedplate, gearbox, Main bearing, Yaw bearing, among others) from a technical & process perspective. This role can be viewed as a "wing-to-wing" mechanical major product issue technical ownership, driving root cause identification, corrective action development and support the implementation of systematic improvements across our fleet. This will be achieved by partnering with different functions such as Design Engineering, Sourcing, Parts, Services, Warranty and Quality, and by using key root cause principles and disciplines such as Lean, 8D, Shainin and/or Six Sigma — grounded in strong mechanical engineering judgment.

The Fleet Engineering RCA leader, Machine Head will be responsible for driving sustained product improvement throughout our contracted fleet striving to build the world’s best running fleet. The RCA Leader will develop, own, implement, and support product quality initiatives on Machine Head components while driving process improvement, closed loop lessons learned with our design segment partners across product life cycle.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Wing to Wing ownership of Machine Head mechanical product issues for assigned RCA’s.
• Own, lead, execute, and resolve assigned RCAs on Machine Head mechanical systems from both technical and operational perspective, to drive root cause analysis to achieve timely and robust issue resolution, addressing emerging issues and reducing Major Component Upgrades (MCUs) for all Machine Head components.
• Define and implement fast track containment for the assigned RCAs.
• Develop effective relationships with the Fleet Performance, NPI Engineering (Machine Head), Field, Sourcing, Parts and Quality teams along with other resources in Customer Solutions to foster the best solutions to our fleet problems.
• Identifies and secures the roles and functions required as part of the RCA team, escalating when required.
• Work cross-functionally to keep track of the impact of assigned RCAs on availability, identifying failure rates and leading the efforts to reduce those on major components such as Gearbox, Main bearing or Yaw bearings.
• Keep track of defined assigned RCA KPIs, especially for On Time Delivery.
• Main point of contact for technical expertise on RCA related communications, providing clear, concise, and consistent messages for internal and external Customers.
• Support escalated PAC cases related with assigned RCA’s, ensuring standard dispositions are created for RCA related PAC cases.
• Support RCA related SAFER Actions, supporting the definition of a potential general approach to reduce unnecessary re-work for future potential similar cases (i.e. identifying reference case). 
• Partner with Sourcing on vendor recovery of supplier-caused defects.
• Support commercial and technical discussions with our suppliers to achieve field quality issue resolution.
• Provide regular updates on RCA progress and related action plan in Quality Suite (RCA reporting platform).
• Owns the definition of the RCA necessary budget for PO’s and cost/benefit impact evaluation, owning the PO workflow related process to get approvals and issue the necessary PO’s along the RCA.
• Maintain thorough and well-organized documentation of the RCA within Fleet Engineering folder.
• Owns the RCA report, providing regular updates at every step.
• Mentor junior RCA team leaders.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or technical discipline from an accredited institution.
• Proven knowledge and/or experience on leading/supporting mechanical RCAs (8D, Shainin, Lean, Six Sigma or similar methodologies).
• Proven extensive work experience preferably in the wind industry.

Desired Characteristics

• Previous deep technical understanding on Yaw systems, Drivetrain, Bearings, Gearbox and/or HPU and other auxiliary systems used within Machine Head environment.
• Detailed understanding of the product development cycle.
• Detailed understanding of the 8D problem solving process.
• Positive, resourceful, clear and strategic thinking problem solver mindset. Able to think outside of the box to bring creative, sustainable solutions to complex scenarios.
• Proven RCA technical expertise and project closure.
• Technical Versatility and ability to learn technology outside of one's specialty.
• Ability and willingness to travel 10% of the time.
• Ability and willingness to climb a wind turbine.
• Root Cause Analysis Training or Certification (8-D, Apollo, Shainin or similar).
• Statistically literate and familiar with quality concepts and tools (Six-sigma BB, Lean, etc.).
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Product reliability mindset.
• Strong field and customer mind-set. Experience with internal and/or external customer communications, particularly with product quality topics like RCAs.
• Prior team management experience (either direct report or indirect reports), with influential leadership experience with credibility, the ability to partner, energize and focus teams to deliver on priorities.
• Self-starter, with personal ownership and accountability.
• Ability to understand business processes, issues, and concerns and translate into solutions.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-cultural environment and highly matrixed environments.
• Master’s Degree or above in Engineering from an accredited university or college.

Additional Information