Protection & Controls Engineer

Overview

This role leads Protection & Controls projects from kickoff through closeout, including system integration, relay upgrades, SCADA systems, engineering studies, NERC compliance activities, and related engineering services. You will serve as a primary technical resource and project lead, coordinating with customers, vendors, field personnel, and internal teams to deliver accurate, high-quality project outcomes.

Schedule

Monday through Friday, typically 8:00am to 5:00pm. Hours may vary based on customer needs and field work, including occasional weekends and holidays.

Travel

Up to 25%

What You Will Do

• Take ownership of assigned projects from kickoff through closeout.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers throughout the project lifecycle.
• Review project scope, schedule, budget, and assumptions following project handoff and identify questions, concerns, and scope gaps.
• Develop RFIs, technical clarifications, design recommendations, and design review packages.
• Travel to customer facilities to collect field data, verify existing conditions, perform site investigations, and support project execution.
• Develop engineering deliverables including calculations, drawings, relay settings, logic diagrams, SCADA configurations, bills of material, technical procedures, reports, and other project documentation.
• Perform engineering evaluations, power system studies, troubleshooting, and technical analyses related to protection and control systems, system integration, and power system operation.
• Coordinate project activities with customers, vendors, field personnel, panel fabrication shops, and internal departments.
• Support procurement activities including purchase requisitions, vendor coordination, equipment tracking, and material procurement.
• Configure, test, troubleshoot, and commission protective relaying systems, communications systems, SCADA systems, and related equipment.
• Support field installation, testing, startup, and commissioning by providing technical guidance and resolving field issues.
• Develop project schedules and manage work activities to achieve milestones, budgets, and customer commitments.
• Identify project risks, technical challenges, and scope changes and communicate them promptly.
• Support invoicing by monitoring project progress, identifying billable milestones, and communicating project status.
• Support Application Engineers with project development, site visits, technical evaluations, and proposal development as needed.
• Support field service operations and maintain assigned vehicles, test equipment, and administrative tools as needed.

What Success Looks Like

• Projects are executed successfully within agreed scope, schedule, and budget.
• Engineering deliverables are technically accurate, complete, and high quality.
• Customers receive responsive communication and strong technical support throughout the project.
• Project risks and challenges are identified early and resolved proactively.
• Assigned work is coordinated effectively across customers, vendors, field teams, and internal departments.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience executing engineering projects involving customer coordination, scheduling, procurement support, field support, and project closeout.
• Experience developing engineering deliverables such as calculations, drawings, relay settings, logic diagrams, SCADA configurations, reports, and technical documentation.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, single-line drawings, three-line drawings, wiring diagrams, and related electrical drawings.
• 5+ years of system integration, protection and control, NERC compliance, power systems engineering, field service, or related experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience installing, testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting protective relaying schemes and communications systems preferred.
• Working knowledge of low-, medium-, and high-voltage power systems.
• Familiarity with electrical test equipment such as megger, hi-pot, WRM, TTR, power factor test sets, high-current breaker test sets, and relay test sets.
• Knowledge of LOTO, Job Hazard Analysis, NETA ATS/MTS, NEC, NFPA 70E, IEEE, and other applicable industry standards.
• Experience with protective relaying systems, SCADA systems, communications networks, RTUs, HMIs, and system integration applications preferred.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, organizational, project-management, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, customer commitments, and competing priorities.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, AutoCAD, and MathCAD.
• Proficiency with SEL, GE, Siemens, ABB, and similar relays and communications equipment.

Education And Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Post-secondary technical education or equivalent experience in electrical power systems, protection and control, system integration, field service, or a related discipline required.
• Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering preferred but not required.

Certifications

• NETA Level III or IV Certification or Professional Engineer (PE) registration preferred.
• Industry certifications or training related to protection and control systems, system integration, SCADA, and relay systems are valued.
• Continued technical and professional development through education, training, certifications, and self-development is expected.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit at a desk for extended periods.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varied weather conditions.
• Occasional climbing of ladders, scaffolding, and use of man-lifts.
• Occasional lifting up to 75 pounds, frequent lifting up to 50 pounds, and continuous lifting up to 25 pounds.
• Frequent reaching or working overhead, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and walking.
• Continuous standing and repetitive hand motion.