Electrical Project Engineer – Secondary Systems

Hitachi Vantara Corporation; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

40 days PTO in the Netherlands

Hybrid work: 3 days remote, 2 days in-

Job summary

Hitachi Energy in Rotterdam, Netherlands seeks a skilled Secondary Engineer to design and deliver secondary systems for high- and medium-voltage substations, including protection, control, SCADA, and related interfaces. The role spans design through commissioning with a hybrid base in Rotterdam and some travel.

You will collaborate across disciplines, specify equipment, validate schemes, and ensure standards compliance while engaging customers and suppliers for successful project execution in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years' experience in secondary engineering for substations or industrial power systems, from design to commissioning.
• Proficient with protection concepts and tools (e.g., differential, distance, overcurrent, IEC 61850, relay configuration, FAT/SAT).
• Able to work independently within multidisciplinary teams with clear communication.
• Strong documentation discipline and hands-on problem solving on site and with suppliers.
• Fluent in English; Dutch is a strong asset.

Responsibilities

• Produce secondary engineering deliverables: SLDs, protection/control schematics, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, and panel layouts.
• Specify and select equipment (protection relays, CTs/VTs, switchgear auxiliaries, PLC/RTU/SCADA) and define settings philosophies.
• Validate protection and control schemes, perform calculations, and prepare relay setting files and FAT/SAT procedures.
• Ensure compliance with IEC/EN standards, Dutch grid codes, and Hitachi Energy QHSE requirements; drive design quality and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with civil, primary, and telecom engineers to ensure interfaces, proper cable routing, and constructability.
• Support installation, testing, and commissioning: respond to site queries, review as-builts, and facilitate customer handover.
• Manage suppliers and panel builders: review drawings, perform FAT tests, and close technical actions.
• Engage customers as a trusted technical partner: clarify requirements, present solutions, and capture lessons learned for future projects.

Skills

Independent work

Documentation

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Protection concepts

IEC 61850

Relay configuration

FAT/SAT

Job description

Job Description:

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Secondary Engineer to join our Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service team in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In this role, you will design and deliver secondary systems for high- and medium-voltage substations and grid connections—including protection, control, SCADA, and auxiliary systems—ensuring safe, reliable, and standards-compliant solutions from design through commissioning. You will collaborate across disciplines and with customers, suppliers, and construction/commissioning teams to enable successful project execution supporting the energy transition. The preferred base is Rotterdam with hybrid working; limited travel to project and customer sites is expected.

The opportunity

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Secondary Engineer to join our Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service team in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In this role, you will design and deliver secondary systems for high- and medium-voltage substations and grid connections—including protection, control, SCADA, and auxiliary systems—ensuring safe, reliable, and standards-compliant solutions from design through commissioning. You will collaborate across disciplines and with customers, suppliers, and construction/commissioning teams to enable successful project execution supporting the energy transition. The preferred base is Rotterdam with hybrid working; limited travel to project and customer sites is expected.

How you’ll make an impact

• Produce secondary engineering deliverables: SLDs, protection/control schematics, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, and panel layouts.
• Specify and select equipment (protection relays, CTs/VTs, switchgear auxiliaries, PLC/RTU/SCADA) and define settings philosophies.
• Validate protection and control schemes, perform calculations, and prepare relay setting files and FAT/SAT procedures.
• Ensure compliance with IEC/EN standards, Dutch grid codes, and Hitachi Energy QHSE requirements; drive design quality and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with civil, primary, and telecom engineers to ensure complete interfaces, proper cable routing, and constructability.
• Support installation, testing, and commissioning: respond to site queries, review as-builts, and facilitate customer handover.
• Manage suppliers and panel builders: review drawings, perform factory acceptance tests, and close technical actions.
• Engage customers as a trusted technical partner: clarify requirements, present solutions, and capture lessons learned for future projects.

Your background

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (power systems, protection and control) or related field.
• 4+ years' experience in secondary engineering for substations or industrial power systems, from design to commissioning.
• Proficient with protection concepts and tools (e.g., differential, distance, overcurrent, IEC 61850, relay configuration, FAT/SAT).
• Able to work independently within multidisciplinary teams; influence stakeholders using sound engineering practices and clear communication.
• Strong documentation rigor and quality mindset; hands-on problem solving at site and with suppliers.
• Fluency in English; Dutch is a strong asset.

More about us

We pride ourselves on offering a holistic range of competitive benefits to support your financial, physical and mental wellbeing and personal development. We want you to truly thrive with us, in work and out.

For this role in the Netherlands, depending on grade and experience, we offer the following employee benefits (subject to the respective plan rules):

• Pension plan
• 40 days PTO in the Netherlands with the possibility to buy or sell vacation days
• Flexible working: 3 days remote, 2 days office (hybrid)

Accessibility and reasonable accommodation

Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Hitachi Energy career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by completing a general inquiry form on our website. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process.

This is solely for job seekers with disabilities requiring accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Messages left for other purposes will not receive a response.

Use of Al and automated tools in recruitment

As part of our recruitment process, Hitachi Energy uses digital and automated tools, including Al-supported solutions, to assist with activities such as application screening, job matching, and interview scheduling. These tools are designed to support our recruiters and do not replace human decision-making. Candidate data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws as well as Hitachi's Global Data Privacy Notice.

Background Screening and Security Checks

As part of the hiring process, Hitachi Energy conducts pre-employment background checks that may include verification of employment history, education, criminal records, and other relevant information, in accordance with applicable laws.

For certain roles - particularly those involving access to sensitive information, financial responsibilities, client data, regulated environments, or security-sensitive functions, additional or more comprehensive background or security screenings may be required. These may include, but are not limited to, enhanced criminal history checks, credit history reviews (where legally permissible), sanctions screening, or other due diligence measures aligned with the responsibilities of the position.

The scope and depth of any background or security review will be determined based on the nature of the role and business necessity, and will always be conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be notified and, where required, asked to provide consent prior to the initiation of any such checks.