A leading engineering services firm is seeking a Lead Protection & Controls Engineer to support complex relay settings, protection studies, and arc flash analysis across power distribution systems. This is a full-time remote opportunity ideal for a senior engineer with a solid background in utility-scale electrical protection and a desire to contribute to high-impact energy projects.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop relay settings and protection philosophies for distribution systems, including transformers, buses, circuit breakers, and feeders.
- Configure and program protection relays for overcurrent, differential, distance, and transformer protection schemes.
- Conduct protection coordination studies to ensure device coordination and minimize downtime during system faults.
- Provide remote or onsite support to relay technicians during settings installation and commissioning.
- Ensure all protection engineering work aligns with industry standards, company procedures, and client requirements.
- Analyze fault data and system conditions to optimize protection settings and enhance system reliability.
- Perform arc flash hazard analysis per industry standards (e.g., NFPA 70E), identifying risks and safety procedures.
- Calculate incident energy and flash boundaries, and recommend PPE and safe work practices.
- Develop and maintain accurate arc flash labels for electrical equipment.
- Recommend mitigation strategies for arc flash hazards, including engineering controls and system changes.
- Collaborate with design, operations, and field teams to ensure accurate implementation of protection schemes.
- Present technical solutions confidently to clients and respond to real-time technical questions with clarity and professionalism
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field (from an ABET-accredited program).
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in protection engineering, relay settings, and arc flash analysis.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
- Proficiency with power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, SKM PowerTools, DigSILENT).
- Strong understanding of relay protection, coordination, and substation protection schemes.
- Hands-on experience with substation relaying and metering design, SEL relays and RTACs, and system protection theory.
- Working knowledge of SCADA systems, SEL software, Aspen, and AutoCAD.
- Familiarity with applicable codes and standards, including IEEE, NEC, NFPA 70E, and OSHA.
- Experience conducting and interpreting relay event analysis and settings development.
- Understanding of key substation components: protective relays, CTs, PTs, transformers, switchgear, capacitor banks, reactors, and transmission lines.
Preferred:
- Certification or training in electrical safety (e.g., NFPA 70E).
- PMP or similar project management certification.
- Experience designing secondary networks or urban medium-voltage distribution systems.
