Design Engineer – Protection and Controls

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Design Engineer to join a Protection and Controls team. In this pivotal role, you will contribute to the design, development, and optimization of control and fault protection systems for our electric substations, transmission lines, and generation facilities. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of utility engineering, supporting critical infrastructure that powers communities and industries.

Key Responsibilities:

• System Design & Development: Collaborate with senior engineers under the guidance of the System Protection Engineering Manager to design and specify control and protection schemes for substations, transmission lines, and generation equipment, ensuring robustness and compliance with industry standards.
• Equipment Specification & Selection: Define substation equipment such as bus structures, transformers, switchgear, relay panels, capacitor banks, reactors, and associated instrumentation, based on system ratings and safety requirements.
• Protection & Control System Engineering: Design protective relay systems, metering, and SCADA controls by referencing current standards, regulations, and latest research, ensuring seamless and reliable operation.
• Data Analysis & System Ratings: Gather and analyze system parameters—including voltage levels, current ratings, impedance, and relay settings—to support system reliability and compliance with reporting agencies such as SPP, NERC, and FERC.
• Project Planning & Estimation: Prepare detailed project scopes and cost estimates to assist in multi-year planning, leveraging data from previous projects, bids, and research to ensure accurate budgeting and timely completion.
• Technical Support & Troubleshooting: Provide technical assistance to operations and construction teams by diagnosing system issues, analyzing failures, performing testing, and supporting commissioning activities.
• Documentation & Compliance: Review and develop technical drawings, schematics, and specifications to ensure adherence to safety protocols, electrical codes, and company standards. Monitor project work to ensure consistency and regulatory compliance.
• Team Collaboration & Leadership: Guide and review work performed by designers and technicians, fostering a safe, efficient, and regulation-compliant work environment.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Proven utility experience related to electric substation, generation, and transmission line control and protection systems highly preferred.
• Solid understanding of electrical engineering principles, with proficiency in system schematics, wiring diagrams, and logic diagrams.
• Knowledge of relay protection schemes, metering, and SCADA systems.
• Ability to develop basic protection relay logic, system settings, and elementary drawings.
• Strong organizational skills with keen attention to detail and accuracy.
• Dependable, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple priorities under high-pressure conditions.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, and database tools.
• Ability to quickly learn and adapt to the company’s design philosophy and standards.