Automation & Protection Systems Lead

LUMA Energy; Neom; On-site; SAR 450,000 - 675,000; Full time

Job summary

LUMA Energy is seeking an experienced Senior Engineering Leader to guide an engineering team responsible for Automation, SCADA, Protection Systems, Historian, and related utility technologies to ensure high‑quality, reliable grid operations.

The role focuses on design, integration, testing, optimization, and governance to resolve complex issues, improve efficiency, and maintain safety and regulatory compliance across projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering and professional licensure considered.
• Proven leadership with 2+ years leading teams in engineering.
• Experience in power/utility systems and protection coordination is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervises a team of engineers and assigns, prioritizes, and oversees technical work across Automation, SCADA, Protection Systems, Historian, and specialized utility applications to ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery of engineering and operational commitments.
• Conducts regular performance check‑ins and annual reviews, providing technical coaching on protection studies, oscillography analysis, relay settings, grid automation design, and system evaluations to support individual growth, resolve issues early, and retain top talent.
• Serves as first line escalation for complex technical and project issues including equipment specification gaps, system integration challenges, relay coordination conflicts, and maintenance program deviations to resolve obstacles and unblock the team without unnecessary escalation.
• Ensure all engineering deliverables, including conceptual designs, protection studies, logic diagrams, SCADA/automation integrations, maintenance programs, and technology evaluations, meet quality, schedule, and budget requirements, resulting in reliable system performance and improved project outcomes.
• Analyzes engineering and operational performance metrics such as system fault events, automation reliability, maintenance effectiveness, relay coordination accuracy, and technology adoption trends to identify improvement opportunities and drive increased efficiency and grid resiliency.
• Partners with project managers and stakeholders to resource technical initiatives appropriately, matching specialized skills such as digital simulation analysis (APA/CAPE, Synergi), historian development, automation design, and system integration to the right work at the right time.
• Identifies training needs and supports development plans by coordinating technical upskilling in areas such as SCADA operation, protection systems, short‑circuit studies, maintenance programs, cybersecurity requirements, system fault analysis, and new technology evaluation, building a high‑performing, well‑integrated engineering team that ensures auditability, continuity, and quality across the project lifecycle.
• Monitors, applies and guides team compliance with utility standards, labor agreements and regulatory requirements; and reinforces company policies, procedures, and standards, ensuring robust compliance with all applicable laws, industry regulations, and internal governance requirements.
• Participates in and ensures team participation in critical restoration tasks and drills following storms and/or emergencies to maintain service continuity and operational safety.
• Executes and delegates additional responsibilities based on team and business needs to ensure continuity and responsiveness in operational responsiveness.

Skills

Engineering Technical Knowledge

Work Planning

Stakeholder Engagement

Leadership

Project Tracking & Resolution

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering

Job description

LUMA Energy is seeking an experienced Senior Engineering Leader to guide an engineering team responsible for Automation, SCADA, Protection Systems, Historian, and related utility technologies to ensure high‑quality, reliable grid operations.

The role focuses on design, integration, testing, optimization, and governance to resolve complex issues, improve efficiency, and maintain safety and regulatory compliance across projects.