Commissioning Protection Engineer

About the role

GE Vernova is seeking a skilled Protection Commissioning Engineer to lead and execute pre-commissioning, commissioning, startup, testing, and maintenance activities for protection and control (P&C) schemes, numerical relays, and substation automation systems. This role ensures safe installation, configuration, testing, troubleshooting, and customer handover of critical power infrastructure — including transmission substations, generation plants, and HVDC systems — while meeting rigorous safety, quality, schedule, and cost requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute pre-commissioning, commissioning, startup, testing, and maintenance of protection and control systems.
• Perform and supervise electrical and functional testing of:
  • Numerical distance, differential, overcurrent, and transformer protection relays (e.g., GE, SEL, ABB/Hitachi, Siemens).
  • Substation Automation Systems (SAS), SCADA, and IEC 61850 communication networks.
  • Protection schemes, intertripping, and GOOSE messaging.
  • Current Transformers (CT) and Potential Transformers (PT/VT) testing, ratio, polarity, and saturation checks.
  • DC control, trip, and auxiliary power supply systems.
  • HV circuit breakers, switchgear, and transformer protection interfaces.
• Lead site teams, technicians, contractors, vendors, and subcontractors during protection testing phases.
• Coordinate daily site testing activities and commissioning schedules with primary electrical teams.
• Troubleshoot complex protection misoperations, wiring errors, logic issues, and perform Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Manage punch lists, Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), technical issues, site instructions, and protection setting change logs.
• Review protection coordination studies, elementary diagrams, schematic drawings, relay setting files, and factory acceptance test (FAT) results.
• Support customer coordination, end-to-end trip tests, energization, startup, and acceptance testing.
• Maintain accurate technical reports, relay test records, configuration backups, daily reports, and project documentation.

Safety & Quality

Safety and quality leadership are core expectations of this role. The candidate must be comfortable working under:

• Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) requirements
• OSHA / NFPA 70E standards
• NETA / NERC / IEC standards
• GE Vernova safety and quality procedures
• Site-specific permit and energization requirements

Candidates must demonstrate the ability to maintain high safety and quality standards even under significant schedule pressure.

Leadership Expectations

• Mentoring junior engineers and technicians on protection testing methodologies.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary site teams.
• Managing contractors and suppliers.
• Making sound decisions during critical energization and testing windows.
• Communicating effectively with customers, protection design engineering, and project management.
• Managing competing priorities under schedule pressure.
• Providing technical leadership and remote troubleshooting support when needed.
• Establishing best practices and driving continuous improvement in protection commissioning execution.

Project Management

This role carries project execution responsibility across the full project lifecycle for protection and control systems: Planning → Mobilization → Installation → Pre-Commissioning → Commissioning → Testing → Energization → Startup → Customer Acceptance.

• Control over schedule for P&C testing milestones
• Testing resources and specialized test equipment (e.g., Omicron, Doble)
• Costs and manpower
• Technical documentation and relay settings configuration management
• Risks and opportunities related to grid synchronization and protection schemes
• Customer requirements

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or equivalent experience.
• 5–8+ years of field experience in electrical power systems with a primary focus on protection and control commissioning (experience level depending on seniority).

Desired Strengths: Strong candidates will have experience in several of the following areas:

• Protection & Control
• Numerical Relays (SEL, GE, Siemens)
• IEC 61850 GOOSE
• SCADA / Substation Automation
• CT/PT Testing
• Primary & Secondary Injection
• HV Substations
• GIS
• HVDC
• Auxiliary DC Systems
• Electrical Testing
• Commissioning
• Hands-on experience with relay testing software (e.g., Omicron Test Universe, Doble ProTest)
• Proven experience leading field testing teams
• Willingness to travel extensively (approximately 60–75%+, depending on position)
• Ability to work in Canada, the U.S., and potentially internationally
• Knowledge of OSHA, NFPA 70E, IEEE, NETA, NERC, and IEC standards (including IEC 61850)
• Strong Microsoft Office skills
• Fluency in English required; French or other languages are an asset depending on region

Certifications (Advantageous)

• Professional Engineer (P.Eng. or P.E.) license
• OSHA 30 certification
• Other relevant safety or protection engineering certifications

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• Access to Health Coach from GE Vernova, a 24/7 nurse-based resource
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program, providing 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services
• GE Vernova Retirement Savings Plan, a tax-advantaged 401(k) savings opportunity with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and financial planning consultants
• Tuition assistance
• Adoption assistance
• Paid parental leave
• Disability benefits
• Life insurance
• 12 paid holidays
• Permissive time off
• Relocation assistance provided

Pay

For candidates applying to a U.S. based position, the pay range for this position is between $113,200.00 and $188,800.00. The Company pays a geographic differential of 110%, 120% or 130% of salary in certain areas. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set. Bonus eligibility: discretionary annual bonus.

Schedule

Extensive travel required (approximately 60–75%+, depending on position). Ability to work in Canada, the U.S., and potentially internationally.