Protection Systems Expert

Elia Group; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary package

Group insurance

Annual leave & vacation days

Meal & eco vouchers

Company car & mobility budget

Phone & laptop for work

Job summary

Elia Group is seeking a Protection Systems Expert to join the Grid Expertise en Standards department in Belgium. You will develop requirements for the secondary side of HV substations, focusing on protection, automation and control, while coordinating with suppliers and project teams.

You will contribute to standards, support project execution, and deliver training to operational entities. A few years of relevant experience and multilingual communication are expected.

Qualifications

• University or industrial engineering degree in electrical engineering or electromechanics.
• Strong affinity for electrical engineering and motivation to develop technical expertise.
• Willingness to travel on site and collaborate with operational entities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in Dutch or French and English; willingness to learn the second national language.
• Analytical and synthesis skills; ability to present complex subjects clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop technical requirements for the secondary side of high-voltage substations based on concept notes.
• Manage framework agreements and testing processes with suppliers for equipment.
• Develop technical standards and solutions for Elia's investment projects.
• Provide technical advice to project teams and stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver technical training courses to operational entities.

Skills

Electrical engineering

Protection and control

PLC programming

AutoCAD/EPLAN

MS Office

IEC 61850

IEC 60870-5-104

Education

University or industrial engineering degree in electrical engineering or electromechanics

Tools

MS Office

AutoCAD/EPLAN

PLC programming languages

Job description

Excited to work for a key Belgian player in the energy landscape?

The Belgian and European energy landscape is in full swing. Did you know that Elia Belgium plays a crucial role in this? As part of Elia Group, a European transmission system operator, Elia Belgium ensures the reliability and sustainability of the electricity supply in our country.

Side-by-side with your talented colleagues, you will play a part in building a sustainable, green and reliable energy infrastructure that stimulates economic growth and reduces our ecological footprint.

Only together can we make the biggest impact possible! We believe in the power of diversity: we are convinced that an inclusive and diverse work environment leads to more innovation, creativity and better results.

Protection Systems Expert

Requisition ID: 11652

Posting Start Date: 29/10/2026

Expertise Secondary Systems

Would you like to develop your technical expertise further and use it to support a reliable electricity supply? As a Protection Systems Expert at Elia, you work on the technical requirements, standards and solutions for the secondary systems of high-voltage substations. Your focus is on protection, automation and control.

Help build tomorrow’s energy supply

The Belgian and European energy landscape is changing rapidly. As part of Elia Group, a European transmission system operator, Elia Belgium plays a crucial role in this transformation and ensures the reliability and sustainability of our country’s electricity supply.

Together with other external professionals and Elia employees, you help build a sustainable, green and reliable energy infrastructure that stimulates economic growth and reduces our ecological footprint. We believe in the power of diversity: an inclusive and diverse working environment leads to greater innovation, creativity and better results.

Your working environment

You join the Grid Expertise en Standards department, where highly qualified and experienced professionals contribute their expertise to our infrastructure projects. Together, we ensure that our assets are installed safely and reliably and operate without fault.

We implement the latest technologies and industry best practices to continuously improve the performance and efficiency of our transmission system. To achieve this, we work closely with other Elia Group departments, manufacturers, engineering companies, contractors, other transmission system operators, universities and organisations such as CIGRE. This keeps our specifications and templates aligned with the market and compliant with all relevant standards.

Your role and responsibilities

As a Protection Systems Expert within Expertise Secondary Systems, you develop expertise in the management and implementation of new assets and their associated processes. You gain a general understanding of the entire secondary side of an Elia substation. You also share responsibility for protection, automation and control, as well as tertiary systems.

Your main tasks focus on protection, automation and control:

• You develop technical requirements for the secondary side of high-voltage substations based on concept notes. You participate in multidisciplinary teams responsible for evaluating tenders and awarding contracts.
• You manage framework agreements, including the processes between Elia and suppliers for the manufacture and acceptance testing of equipment.
• You develop technical standards and solutions for Elia’s investment projects, based on concept notes and guidelines.
• You support project teams and provide technical advice.
• You develop technical training courses and deliver them to operational entities.

To carry out these activities, you acquire the necessary technical expertise in the field.

Your Profile

• You hold a university or industrial engineering degree in electrical engineering or electromechanics. You have a strong affinity for electrical engineering and are motivated to develop your technical expertise further and actively share it.
• You seek pragmatic solutions and take a customer-focused, results-oriented approach. When necessary, you go on site to carry out your tasks in close collaboration with the operational entities.
• You manage your agreed responsibilities independently and proactively. You are flexible, work well with others, communicate clearly and listen actively. You can persuade others constructively.
• You have strong analytical and synthesis skills. You communicate complex subjects and the results of your activities clearly and in a structured way, both orally and in writing, through reports or presentations.
• You work accurately and with a focus on quality, taking responsibility for the outcome. You critically assess your own performance, identify areas for improvement and adjust your approach when necessary.
• You have the following technical knowledge or are willing to acquire it: in-depth knowledge of MS Office, AutoCAD/EPLAN, PLC programming languages, secondary systems, protection devices and RTUs, IEC 60870-5-104 and IEC 61850.
• A few years of experience would be an asset.
• You can communicate both orally and in writing in Dutch or French and in English, and you are willing to learn the second national language.

Our offer

• Salary: a competitive salary package, allowance for representation expenses, year-end bonus, double vacation pay, meal vouchers (€10 per working day), eco-vouchers, sport & culture vouchers, bonuses based on individual and group results.
• Insurance: group insurance, hospitalisation insurance, ambulant care insurance for the whole family and also personal accident insurance.
• Vacation: You will be entitled to 20 vacation days and 5 additional vacation days, 6 local days, 4 exempt days (after 1 year of employment) and up to 5 long-service days (1 day for every 3 years in employment).
• Social fund: Year-end vouchers, birth and marriage allowance. We will also cover part of the cost of glasses, a dental prosthesis or similar needs.
• Communication: you will be given an iPhone, a phone subscription (for work and private use) and a laptop with internet reimbursement.
• Discounts: you will enjoy a 30% discount on your gas and electricity bill.
• Mobility: we will offer you a company car and public transport or a mobility budget.
• Elia shares: Elia will give you the opportunity to subscribe to shares with a discount of 16.66% on the average share price.

There’s something electric in the air with this job offer!

In exchange for your work and dedication, you enjoy the following benefits:

• A job full of variety with a top employer: Elia encourages innovation and collaboration.Within our company you will be at the forefront of the energy transition, and you will have the chance to contribute to ground-breaking technologies designed to accelerate this transition. It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to further develop your knowledge and skills.
• Focus on personal growth and well-being at work:Discover a wide range of professional training and coaching opportunities that are guaranteed to give your personal growth a solid boost. At the same time, as a top employer, we put maximum effort to a positive work culture in which your well-being is central.
• Development opportunities for a challenging career:At Elia, we encourage you to seek out and seize new professional opportunities and you will enjoy complete freedom to shape your career on your own terms.
• A diverse team of passionate colleagues:Elia puts a high value on diversity and inclusion …

These are just a few of the benefits that distinguish Elia as a Top Employer. We are convinced that your contribution to our team will be invaluable and look forward to welcoming you soon!