Advanced Lead Engineer, Composite Mechanics

Job Description Summary

We are seeking an experienced Advanced Lead Engineer specializing in Composite Damage Mechanics with a deep focus on damage characterization of wind turbine blade structures. In this role, you will lead technical investigations into damage initiation, progression, and criticality in large or complex composite components, driving experimental and analytical programs that directly support structural integrity, lifetime extension, and certification across onshore and offshore wind platforms. This is a high-impact technical leadership role at the forefront of composite structural integrity, offering the opportunity to shape how wind industry understands and manages blade damage at scale.

Job Description

Essential Responsibilities

Technical Leadership:

• Lead damage characterization programmes for wind turbine blade primary and secondary composite structures, covering glass fiber (GFRP), carbon fiber (CFRP), and hybrid laminates used in spar caps, shear webs, and shells.
• Define and own the technical strategy for blade damage tolerance and structural integrity, integrating field-observed damage with laboratory characterization and analytical predictions.
• Act as the technical expert for damage characterization methodologies, providing guidance on blade-specific damage scenarios encountered during manufacturing, transportation, installation, and service.

• Lead the design and execution of multi-scale damage characterization campaigns relevant to complex composite structures. This may include delamination, matrix cracking, impact damage, and fatigue-driven progressive damage studies.
• Define test matrices and specimen configurations representative of full-scale component construction.
• Interpret and disposition complex composite component damage states including matrix cracking, delamination, and fiber waviness.

• Oversee and critically review Progressive Failure Analysis (PFA) and Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) models supporting composite damage assessment.
• Validate finite element predictions against experimental characterization data.
• Apply and assess applicability of failure criteria for composite-specific damage modes (Hashin, Puck, Cohesive Zone Models, VCCT).

• Apply and interpret relevant industry structural standards and certification frameworks (IEC 61400-5) for wind turbine blades.
• Develop, own and maintain design specifications and/or rules for composite structure failure modes.
• Support full-scale blade structural testing programs (IEC 61400-23) with damage characterization input.

• 8+ years of hands-on experience in composite structures with significant focus on damage mechanics and characterization.
• Demonstrated experience in large-scale or advanced composite structures (e.g., aerospace, marine, wind, automotive).
• Proven track record of leading experimental damage characterization programmes for thick-section glass, carbon fiber laminates or sandwich laminates.
• Experience working within equivalent structural certification processes within high-performance composite industries.
• Experience operating within a building block approach framework (coupon → sub-component → full-scale)

• GFRP / CFRP damage failure modes
• Interlaminar fracture toughness testing (DCB/ENF/MMB)
• Fatigue damage progression in composites
• NDE/NDT methods (UT, thermography, AE)
• FEA for damage modelling (e.g., Abaqus)
• Relevant industry structural standards (e.g., aerospace, marine, wind)
• Python / MATLAB for data processing

• Experience with full-scale composite structural testing (static and fatigue) and damage monitoring.
• Familiarity with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) for full-field strain and damage mapping on composite specimens/components.
• Experience with structural health monitoring (SHM) systems deployed on operating composite structures.
• Exposure to thermoplastic composite development and associated damage behaviour.
• Knowledge of environmental challenges for composites: salt spray, UV degradation, humidity-driven damage, etc.
• Publications or presentations in relevant composite conferences (e.g., ICCM, ECCM, SAMPE, AIAA).

• Technical Authority: Recognized composite damage expert; shapes programme technical direction.
• Problem Solving: Resolves novel in-service composite component damage scenarios independently.
• Communication: Translates complex findings for asset owners, operators & certifiers.
• Collaboration: Builds strong links across composite component design, test, field & certification teams.
• Mentorship: Actively develops damage mechanics capability in others.
• Delivery Focus: Balances technical rigor with program and outage schedules.