Substation Engineer, System Protection - Power Delivery

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a System Protection Engineer to join our team. The engineer works on electric substation design projects for high-voltage utility systems and renewable energy interconnection projects, applying engineering knowledge to fulfill project responsibilities and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to meet milestones and expectations.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.

Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative “One Team” mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do. We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision.

Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make. We are deeply invested in the communities we serve through projects and giving-back initiatives, enriching lives and creating a lasting impact. In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms and ranked #5 for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind.

Responsibilities

• Perform all system protection and communication design aspects for high voltage (4kV – 230kV) and EHV (above 230kV) substation projects, including:
  • Develop Protection and Control Specifications
  • SCADA and Communications Specifications
  • I/O Mapping, Points Lists, and Associated Mapping
  • Relay Settings, Event Analysis Studies
  • Short Circuit, Arc Flash, Relay Coordination, CT Saturation
• Perform QA/QC for:
  • One-Line Diagrams
  • Three-Line Diagrams
  • Current and Potential Schematics
  • Control Schematics
  • Alarm Schematics
  • SCADA and Communications Schematics
• Provide technical support for procurement and construction (testing and commissioning).
• Coordinate seamlessly with the Protection & Control (P&C) Design Team to develop schematics and provide guidance.
• Provide technical support to field personnel responsible for applying and testing relay settings.
• Coordinate efforts with project team members across disciplines (e.g., protection and control, transmission line, distribution line, telecom engineers).
• Follow department processes and procedures to maintain consistency and strong customer service.
• Provide transparent and honest feedback to project teams, including external stakeholders and clients.
• Develop approaches to accommodate unique client requests and advise management on maximizing ROI.
• Mentor and train entry-level professionals, including top graduates entering the field.
• Focus on producing high-quality work and supporting continuous improvement efforts.
• Assist in identifying fundamental client interests and determining key clients.
• Communicate client interests and drivers to project team members and develop approaches to address them.
• Serve as a technical specialist for system protection and communication, providing consultation and guidance to project teams.
• Remove impediments obstructing the engineering team from achieving its goals.
• Attend client technical review meetings.
• Act as project technical lead and QA/QC lead as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from a recognized accredited program.
• Minimum of 8 years of related work experience in high voltage substation design – System Protection and Communication.
• Professional Engineer (PE) License.
• Proficient using ASPEN One Liner, ETAP, Power Factory, CYME Dist., or similar programs.
• Strong familiarity with NERC System Protection Coordination Requirements, including NERC PRC-001 and NERC PRC-027.
• Strong familiarity with the NEC and National Electrical Safety Code.
• Good knowledge of industry and technology trends specific to substations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient with wind and solar farm SCADA and Network Requirements and associated designs.
• Proficient in load flow and reactive compensation studies.
• Proficient in the use of PSSE for transmission planning and analysis.
• Experience with proposal writing and project estimating.
• Working knowledge of scheduling and project controls processes.