How to Become an Offshore Wind Engineer in the UK
The routes in, the training you need and how to land your first offshore wind job
Offshore wind is one of the fastest-growing parts of UK engineering, and every new wind farm needs people to design, build and maintain it. If you want to become an offshore wind engineer, this guide sets out the main routes in, the GWO training you will need, the skills employers look for and the practical steps that get you hired. Whether you are a school leaver, a graduate or an experienced engineer moving across from oil and gas, manufacturing or the armed forces, there is a way in.
What does an offshore wind engineer do?
An offshore wind engineer works on any stage of a wind farm’s life, from early design to decades of operation. The job title covers a wide range of roles, so it helps to know which one suits you before you apply.
- Design and development engineers work on turbine layouts, foundations, cable routes and grid connections, usually from an office with some site visits.
- Installation and construction engineers manage the lifting of foundations, towers and blades from installation vessels and ports.
- Electrical and high-voltage engineers look after substations, export cables and the protection systems that link the farm to the grid.
- Operations and maintenance (O&M) engineers keep turbines running, plan repairs and analyse performance data.
- Wind turbine technicians climb the towers and carry out the hands-on servicing, inspection and fault finding.
Most offshore wind jobs fall into one of these groups. Many people start as a wind turbine technician and move into engineering, planning or management roles as they gain experience.
Why offshore wind jobs are growing in the UK
The UK has one of the largest offshore wind fleets in the world, and the government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out a range of 43 to 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Meeting that ambition means building new farms, upgrading ports and expanding the grid, all of which create renewable energy jobs for engineers and technicians.
The work is spread around the coast, with major hubs in the Humber, Teesside, East Anglia, the North West and Scotland. Projects such as the 1.4GW East Anglia THREE wind farm show the scale of the work: you can read about its progress in our East Anglia THREE update. Long-running maintenance contracts also mean that, once you are in the industry, there is steady demand for your skills.
7 steps to become an offshore wind engineer
1. Choose your route in
There are three main routes. You can study for an engineering degree (mechanical, electrical, civil or renewable energy engineering are all common), take an apprenticeship with a wind farm operator or turbine maker, or move across from a related industry such as oil and gas, marine, aviation or the armed forces.
2. Build a strong technical base
Employers value mechanical, electrical or electronic knowledge. A Level 3 qualification in electrical or mechanical engineering is a common starting point for technician roles, while design and project roles usually ask for a degree.
3. Complete your GWO training
Global Wind Organisation (GWO) Basic Safety Training is the industry standard and most offshore wind jobs ask for it before you start. More on this below.
4. Get your offshore medical
You will need to pass an offshore medical to work at sea. Fitness matters because the work involves climbing and working in confined spaces.
5. Gain hands-on experience
Onshore wind, manufacturing, electrical maintenance or marine work all give you relevant experience. Even short contracts help your CV stand out.
6. Tailor your CV for offshore wind jobs
List your safety certificates near the top, show the equipment you have worked on and quantify your results. Our CV checker shows you how well your CV matches a real job advert.
7. Apply through a specialist recruiter
Many roles are filled through recruiters who know the contractors and operators. Registering with a specialist means you hear about offshore wind jobs before they are widely advertised.
GWO training and the certificates you need
GWO training is the safety standard that most of the wind industry recognises. The Global Wind Organisation sets the standards, and approved training centres around the UK deliver the courses. The Basic Safety Training (BST) modules are:
- First Aid
- Manual Handling
- Fire Awareness
- Working at Heights
- Sea Survival (needed for offshore work)
GWO certificates are valid for two years, so you will need refresher training to keep them current. Depending on the role, employers may also ask for GWO Basic Technical Training, high-voltage authorisation or advanced rescue training. Some people already hold oil and gas certificates such as BOSIET; these are different from GWO training, so check what the employer needs before you book a course.
Skills an offshore wind engineer needs
Technical skill gets you shortlisted, but employers in offshore wind look just as hard at safety culture and teamwork. The skills that appear again and again in job adverts include:
- Mechanical and electrical fault finding on gearboxes, generators, hydraulics and control systems.
- High-voltage knowledge for substation and cable roles.
- Reading drawings and data, including SCADA data and condition monitoring reports.
- A strong safety mindset, including permit-to-work systems and risk assessments.
- Teamwork and communication, because crews work closely together for long shifts at sea.
- Comfort with heights and the marine environment.
If you are moving from another sector, show how your experience transfers. A maintenance engineer from a factory, for example, already understands rotating equipment, planned maintenance and safe systems of work.
Wind turbine technician or offshore wind engineer?
The two roles overlap but are not the same. A wind turbine technician carries out practical work on the turbines: servicing, inspections, repairs and fault finding. An offshore wind engineer is more often responsible for planning, design, analysis or managing the work, and may spend more time onshore.
Many engineers start as technicians, and that hands-on experience is highly valued later in a career. If you prefer practical work and want to get offshore quickly, a technician role is usually the faster route. If you have a degree and enjoy problem solving and planning, an engineering role may suit you better.
Pay, rotas and working life
Pay for offshore wind jobs varies with the role, your experience and whether you work offshore, onshore or on contract. Offshore roles often work on a rotation, such as two weeks on and two weeks off, and many include allowances for time at sea. Contract roles can pay well during busy construction periods.
Working life is demanding but rewarding. You may travel to work by crew transfer vessel or helicopter, live on a vessel or platform during your shift and work in all weathers. In return, you get varied work, strong career prospects and the satisfaction of building the UK’s clean energy system.
Find offshore wind jobs with Bernoullis
Bernoullis is an engineering recruitment agency that places engineers and technicians in renewable energy jobs across the UK. Our environmental engineering recruitment team works with offshore wind developers, contractors and the supply chain.
Before you apply, run your CV through our CV checker to see how it scores against the job you want, then browse our latest engineering vacancies or get in touch for a confidential chat about your next move as an offshore wind engineer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a degree to become an offshore wind engineer?
Not always. Design and project engineering roles usually ask for a degree, but many people enter through apprenticeships or technician roles and move into engineering with experience.
What is GWO training?
GWO Basic Safety Training is the wind industry's standard safety course. It covers first aid, manual handling, fire awareness, working at heights and sea survival, and certificates last two years.
Can I move into offshore wind from oil and gas?
Yes. Offshore experience, safety training and mechanical or electrical skills transfer well, although you will usually need GWO certificates as well as any oil and gas training you hold.
Where are offshore wind jobs in the UK?
Most roles are near the coast, including the Humber, Teesside, East Anglia, the North West and Scotland, with design and office roles in cities across the UK.
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