Protection & Control Relay Technician

About the role

The Protection & Control (P&C) Relay Technician performs installation, testing, commissioning, maintenance, and troubleshooting of protection, control, and automation systems within electric utility substations and related facilities. This role supports the safe and reliable operation of transmission and distribution systems by ensuring relays, control circuits, and associated equipment perform according to engineering design, utility standards, and regulatory requirements. Work assignments, responsibilities, and task complexity may vary depending on classification (e.g., Technician, Journeyman, Cable Splicer, or other IBEW Local 102 designations) as outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Responsibilities

• Protection & Control Testing & Commissioning: Perform functional and acceptance testing of protective relays, control circuits, and substation devices. Conduct end‑to‑end testing including CT/PT verification, polarity and phasing checks, trip testing, interlock verification, and system integration checks. Support commissioning of new or upgraded protection schemes such as feeder, transformer, bus, line, breaker failure, differential, and other protective functions. Assist in validating protective relay settings, logic, wiring, and control functions in accordance with engineering documentation.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Perform scheduled and corrective maintenance on protective relays, SCADA systems, RTUs, switchgear control circuits, and associated equipment. Investigate system events, alarms, and misoperations and assist in retrieving and interpreting relay event records and oscillography. Diagnose issues involving AC/DC control circuits, communications links, power equipment, and automation systems.
• Installation & Field Support: Install, route, terminate, and