System Protection Engineer III/Senior

Arizona Public Service generates reliable, affordable and clean energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. Our service territory stretches across the state, from the border town of Douglas to the vistas of the Grand Canyon, from the solar fields of Gila Bend to the ponderosa pines of Payson. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.

About the Role

The System Protection Engineer III/Senior is responsible for specifying, designing, and implementing protection schemes for the transmission system and substations. This role performs complex engineering design, system modifications, and provides economic and analytical support for various projects and programs. May be subject to shift work.

This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to U.S. Export Control Laws. Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident, a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS), all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering discipline or related applied science discipline (Materials Science/Metallurgy, Physics, Chemistry, Math, Nuclear, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Electronics, Computer Science, Environmental, Chemical, Architectural, Structural). A four-year bachelor of Engineering Technology degree is not considered an automatic equivalent; a review of the degree program curriculum must be completed by Engineering department management.
• Level III: Five (5) years of working experience in Engineering-related positions.
• Senior: Eight (8) years of working experience in Engineering-related positions, with a degree from an ABET accredited institution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Problem analysis and resolution techniques.
• Knowledge of applicable codes, standards, practices, methods, and safety standards in the area of engineering discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop or revise relay settings in support of modifications to the transmission system.
• Maintain an up-to-date short circuit model of the APS transmission and sub-transmission system.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of all relay settings in the transmission and sub-transmission system.
• Develop programs/projects to improve existing protection systems across the APS transmission system.
• Periodically review relay settings across the system to ensure adequate coordination and protection.
• Provide support to field personnel during testing and commissioning of protection schemes.
• Provide support to operations personnel during system events.
• Review protection system operations to determine correct operation or mis-operation.
• Participate in root cause analysis following the declaration of a protection system mis-operation.
• Participate in NERC Compliance activities in support of applicable PRC and CIP standards.
• Specification, design, create settings, and keep settings records of Digital Fault Recorders installed in APS’s system.

Schedule

• Hybrid: Employees in hybrid roles work both in their home offices (virtually) and alongside their colleagues (in person). Hybrid employees are expected to work about 40% of their time in-person at an APS or other (non-home office) location.
• Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).
• Working from a home office requires adequate technology and an appropriate ergonomic setup.
• Role types are subject to change based on business need.