Junior Design Engineer – Steel Structures (Mentor-Led)

Fielders; Sydney; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fielders in Sydney is seeking a Design Engineer specializing in Protection & Control for HV and renewable infrastructure projects. You will lead design reviews, develop secondary systems, and support procurement and commissioning activities.

The role demands 5+ years on HV projects in Australia, NSP/contractor experience, and strong knowledge of protection schemes, SCADA, DNP3, IEC 60870-5, and AutoCAD. Travel for site works is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience on HV/renewable infrastructure projects (Australia).
• Experience with NSP/contractor environments is essential.
• Strong design sense for Protection & Control and associated automation systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop concept and detailed designs for secondary systems, including drafting and studies.
• Lead design reviews for Protection & Control, automation and communications.
• Participate in safety design reviews (HAZID/HAZCON/HAZOP).
• Respond to RFIs for secondary systems and support tender submissions.
• Assist in FAT/SCAT testing and commissioning activities.
• Collaborate with project teams, clients and stakeholders to deliver high‑quality solutions.
• Review technical specifications and documentation for Protection & Control systems.
• Engage with vendors to ensure equipment procurement.
• Attend site visits and project meetings to ensure compliance.

Skills

Protection & Control design

Relay configurations

Load flow

Protection studies

Insulation coordination

Earthing

Lightning

Metering

QoSM

Communication systems design

HMI

Cybersecurity awareness

Strong communication

Project delivery

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

SCADA

DNP3

IEC 60870-5

Job description

Design Engineer - Protection & Control

We are supporting our client—a leading EPC organisation in the energy sector—to recruit a talented and experienced Design Engineer specialising in Protection & Control. This is a full-time role based in Sydney, offering you the chance to work on high-voltage (HV) and renewable infrastructure projects. If you have a strong background in secondary systems design and are passionate about delivering innovative engineering solutions, we’d love to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Develop both concept and detailed designs for secondary systems, including drafting and studies.
• Lead and contribute to design reviews for Protection & Control systems, automation, and communication.
• Participate in cross-functional design reviews addressing safety in design, HAZID, HAZCON, and HAZOP processes.
• Respond to project-related Requests for Information (RFIs) pertaining to secondary systems.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Commissioning Acceptance Tests (SCAT), and bench testing when required.
• Contribute to tender submissions and feasibility studies for Protection & Control designs.
• Collaborate with project teams, clients, and stakeholders to deliver tailored and high-quality solutions.
• Perform technical investigations and feasibility assessments for proposed designs.
• Prepare and review technical specifications and supporting documentation for Protection & Control systems.
• Engage with external vendors and suppliers to ensure smooth procurement of equipment and materials.
• Conduct site inspections and join project meetings to ensure compliance and provide expert input.
• Enhance design processes through continuous improvement initiatives and adoption of best practices.

About You

• At least 5 years of relevant experience working on HV and renewable infrastructure projects within Australia.
• Experience working within a Network Service Provider (NSP) or contractor environment is essential.
• Strong expertise in Protection & Control systems design, including relay configurations, load flow, protection studies, insulation coordination, earthing, lightning, metering, and Quality of Supply Monitoring (QoSM).
• Knowledge of automation systems, including SCADA Functional Design Specification (FDS), SCADA signal lists, SCADA mapping, and Human-Machine Interface (HMI).
• Proficiency in communication systems design, such as comms architecture, fiber, network design, remote end access, IT, and VPN setup.
• Familiarity with auxiliary systems, including load calculations, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), cabling, lighting, and security.
• Advanced skills in AutoCAD.
• Hands-on experience with commissioning and testing of secondary systems is highly regarded.
• Understanding of regulatory permits and approvals related to secondary systems design is advantageous.
• Experience conducting fault studies and developing protection coordination schemes for HV systems.
• Knowledge of SCADA integration and communication protocols like DNP3 and IEC 60870-5.
• An understanding of cybersecurity best practices for critical infrastructure is an asset.
• Excellent communication skills to clearly present complex technical information.
• A proven ability to successfully deliver challenging Protection & Control engineering projects.
• Availability to travel for site visits prior to and during construction.
• Full working rights in Australia.

What to Expect Day-to-Day

• Collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to craft Protection & Control system designs.
• Reviewing designs and providing technical insights to align with project specifications.
• Offering technical support by responding to RFIs from the project team.
• Participating in testing and commissioning activities to ensure functionality and compliance.
• Liaising with clients, stakeholders, and suppliers to meet project milestones.
• Conducting feasibility checks and analyses to guide critical decisions.Updating and reviewing design documentation and technical reports.
• Contributing to initiatives that improve design methodologies and processes.

If you’re passionate about advancing energy infrastructure and making a real impact in Protection & Control systems design, we’d love to hear from you!