Field Expert Technician (Communications)

Job Description

We're the world's largest independent renewable energy company. We're guided by a simple yet powerful vision: to create a future where everyone has access to affordable, zero carbon energy.

We know that achieving our ambitions would be impossible without our people. Because we're tackling some of the world's toughest problems, we need the very best people to help us. They're our most important asset so that's why we continually invest in them.

RES is a family with a diverse workforce, and we are dedicated to the personal professional growth of our people, no matter what stage of their career they're at. We can promise you rewarding work which makes a real impact, the chance to learn from inspiring colleagues from across a growing, global network and opportunities to grow personally and professionally.

Our competitive package offers rewards and benefits including pension schemes, flexible working, and top-down emphasis on better work-life balance. We also offer private healthcare, discounted green travel, 24 days holiday (with an additional discretionary day given by the company) with options to buy/sell days, enhanced family leave and four volunteering days per year so you can make an impact somewhere else.

The Position

The Field Expert Technician (Comms) is a field-based role performing specialist services on the Communications and SCADA systems of battery storage and solar PV plants. You will be part of a team of industry-leading inverter specialists that support our wider O&M team in delivering exceptional plant performance and also provide on-site intervention for asset owners on plants external to our O&M portfolio.

You will be a qualified electrician with experience maintaining MW-scale power plants, with a keen interest in working on communications and SCADA systems. This is a permanent role and an overtime system is in place.

A company vehicle, smart phone and laptop/tablet will be provided. RES provides a comprehensive package of benefits including contributory pension, private health insurance and investment in role-specific training, and as a Specialist Technician (Comms), you will be supported in receiving all relevant manufacturer training to allow us to deliver this service.

Key Accountabilities

• Provide remote troubleshooting and on-site support to O&M technicians in rectification of faults on the portfolio's Communications and SCADA systems
• Support the regional O&M teams on-site with corrective and preventive maintenance where required
• Contribute to the internal knowledge base in relation to comms and SCADA, and share knowledge across the wider team
• Develop method statements in collaboration with the Operations Manager, HSQE Team and Comms/SCADA Specialists
• Identify any knowledge and training gaps, and put forward relevant training courses to assist the team with upskilling
• Identify and propose upgrades to the specialist systems (considering obsolescence and reliability)
• Support the Performance Analysts and SMART team in developing API connections to new sites as required
• Any other duties, for example with other specialist systems as required by the business needs

Knowledge

• Good knowledge and understanding of solar PV technology
• Knowledge of central inverters is essential
• Technical understanding of AC and DC systems within utility-scale solar farms
• Good knowledge and understanding of SCADA, instrumentation and communications networks is required
• Good knowledge and understanding of HVAC, fire protection, security systems is desirable
• Good knowledge and understanding of battery storage technology, although training can be given in this area

Skills

• Approach to safe working practices
• Excellent communication skills, fluent written and spoken English
• Able to respond to changing priorities and emergent issues
• Enthusiasm for personal development
• Able to read and interpret schematic diagrams and technical manuals
• Computer skills for writing reports, reporting progress and communicating by email
• Passion, Accountability, Collaboration, and Excellence

Experience

• Experience, reading, writing and amending Risk Assessments and Method Statements
• Experience working with equipment vendors to support diagnosis of faults
• DC and LV installation, fault finding, testing and commissioning
• Experience working remotely
• Solar PV installation and O&M experience (MW-scale or large commercial ground-mount)
• Battery storage installation and O&M experience (MW-scale) is desirable
• Experience installing or maintaining ethernet and fibre optic communications
• Experience working with SCADA or data monitoring systems
• Work with Central inverters
• Work with High Voltage switchgear

Qualifications

• Full UK driving license
• Qualified Electrician
• Inspection and testing qualifications (C&G 2391 or 2394/5) highly valued
• First aid qualifications
• Health & Safety qualifications (e.g. IOSH Managing Safely, SMSTS)

At RES we celebrate difference as we know it makes our company a great place to work. Encouraging applicants with different backgrounds, ideas and points of view, we create teams who work together to solve complex problems and design practical solutions for our clients. Our multiple perspectives come from many sources including the diverse ethnicity, culture, gender, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, marital status, parental status, education, social background and life experience of our people.