Principal Engineer - Secondary

Consolidated Power Projects Australia; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Above-market salary package

Annual bonus

Work from home

Study assistance

Parental leave (16 weeks primary, 6 w/

AI capability access

Phone or laptop provided

Employee discounts

EAP for you and family

Job summary

Consolidated Power Projects Australia is seeking a Principal Engineer – Secondary to lead protection engineering for high-voltage transmission and renewable energy projects in Adelaide. You will develop, review and assurance protection philosophies, relay settings and fault studies, enabling safe and reliable operation of substations and renewables.

You will mentor engineers, influence engineering standards, and collaborate with national teams on complex protection challenges from design through

Qualifications

• A degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Extensive experience in protection engineering within HV transmission/substations or renewables.
• Advanced knowledge of protection relay technologies (Siemens/ABB/GE/SEL).
• Strong experience with power system analysis software (DIgSILENT PowerFactory).
• Understanding of Australian utility standards and protection practices.
• Experience providing design verification and technical assurance for protection schemes.
• Ability to mentor engineers and promote best practice; Chartered status is highly regarded.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and review of protection philosophies, relay settings and fault studies.
• Provide technical assurance across projects and support commissioning activities.
• Resolve complex protection challenges and guide engineering decisions.
• Mentor and develop engineers and graduates to strengthen protection capability.
• Contribute to engineering standards and best practices across the business.

Skills

Protection engineering

Power system analysis

DIgSILENT PowerFactory

Mentoring

Engineering standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Chartered Professional Engineer (CPE)

Tools

Siemens

ABB

GE

SEL

DIgSILENT PowerFactory

Job description

• Join an industry leader who is supporting Australia move towards a renewable energy future

Job Description

Who Are CPP?

CPP is a leading high-voltage infrastructure provider, connecting renewable energy projects to Australia’s electricity grid.

As a member of Quanta Services, a Fortune 500 company ranked #192 on the NYSX, we specialise in the design, construction, commissioning, and maintenance of substations, transmission lines, wind farms, and battery storage systems.

Established in 1996, we’ve connected more wind farms and renewable batteries than any other company. With over 800 employees and offices in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, we partner with Australia’s major transmission providers to deliver innovative, end-to-end solutions.

Join us in shaping the future of energy.

CPP has the largest in-house design and engineering team of any contractor in Australia, with over 170 specialists across Electrical Primary and Secondary, Civil, Structural, and SCADA disciplines. We provide end-to-end engineering solutions for high-voltage infrastructure, including nationally significant transmission projects, HV substations, wind farms and battery storage systems that drive Australia’s renewable energy transition.

Our engineers work closely with construction and operations teams, ensuring designs are practical, constructible, and continually refined through real-world feedback. With a commitment to innovation and excellence, we deliver solutions that support a stable, reliable, and sustainable energy future.

The Opportunity

CPP continues to secure some of Australia’s largest renewable energy and utility infrastructure projects, creating an exciting opportunity for a Principal Engineer – Secondary with specialist protection expertise to join our established Adelaide engineering team.

In this role, you’ll provide high-level protection engineering expertise across the design and delivery of complex high-voltage transmission and renewable energy projects. Working alongside our highly respected national engineering team, you’ll lead the development and review of protection philosophies, relay settings, fault studies and protection schemes that support the safe and reliable operation of substations and renewable energy infrastructure.

Your expertise will extend beyond design. You’ll provide technical assurance across projects, resolve complex protection challenges and support commissioning and energisation activities. You’ll also play an important role in mentoring engineers and graduates, strengthening protection capability across the business and helping shape engineering standards and best practice.

With exposure to nationally significant renewable energy and utility projects, you’ll have the opportunity to influence complex engineering outcomes and see projects progress from concept through to commissioning.

Desired Skills and Experience

About You

To be successful in this role, you will possess:

• A degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience in protection engineering within transmission and distribution substations, utilities or renewable energy projects.
• Advanced knowledge of protection relay technologies, including Siemens, ABB, GE and SEL.
• Strong experience using power system analysis software such as DIgSILENT PowerFactory.
• A comprehensive understanding of Australian utility standards and protection design practices.
• Experience providing design verification, technical assurance and solutions to complex protection engineering challenges.
• The ability to mentor and develop engineers while promoting consistency, quality and engineering best practice.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status and registration on the National Engineering Register will be highly regarded.

Be rewarded at CPP.

At CPP, we value our people above all else. We’re dedicated to investing in and developing your talent to help you reach your full potential. By joining us, you’ll have the opportunity to work on industry-leading projects and access the latest technologies. We foster a culture of innovation and welcome fresh ideas – if you're ready to challenge the status quo, we want you to be part of our team.

Benefits include:

• Above-market salary package with annual reviews
• Annual bonus, discretionary based on individual and business performance
• We offer flexible working options, with the ability to work from home
• Access to study assistance for continuous development, and a strong focus on internal promotions to help you grow within
• 16 weeks paid primary parental leave and 6 weeks paid secondary parental leave
• Up to 2 weeks of purchased leaveWe actively invest in AI capability, providing access to premium AI subscriptions to help you work smarter, solve complex problems and deliver better outcomes
• Choice between an iPhone or Samsung mobile & design specked engineering laptop and software
• Generous employee referral program up to $4,000
• Access to an extensive benefits and discounts program with savings at over 400 retailers
• Free Employee Assistance Program for you and your family, supporting physical, mental, and financial wellbeing

CPP is an equal opportunity employer that fosters a culture of achievement, personal development and offers a diverse, safe and supportive work environment.