Application Engineer - Automation

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

ESOP

Paid time off

401(k)

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) in Pullman, WA, is seeking an Application Engineer to serve as a trusted technical advisor for utility and industrial customers, helping design, implement, and optimize SEL protection, automation, and communications solutions.

You will support pre‑ and post‑sales activities, build strong relationships, assist with system design and commissioning, and travel about 25–30% to customer sites or training events from our Burnaby or Calgary offices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience with power systems, protection relays, automation, or industrial control.
• Strong communication and ability to explain complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical representative between customers and SEL teams.
• Provide pre-sales and post-sales technical guidance on system design.
• Support commissioning, testing, and configuration of SEL protection solutions.
• Travel to customer sites as needed (25–30%).

Skills

Power systems

Protection relays

Automation systems

Customer engagement

Pre-sales

Post-sales

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

SEL software

RTAC & Automation

Job description

Job Description

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) designs and manufactures products and solutions that protect and control power systems around the world. For over 40 years, SEL has been at the forefront of innovation in protective relays, automation, communications, and cybersecurity, helping utilities and industrial customers improve reliability, safety, and efficiency of critical infrastructure where failure is not an option. Today, SEL technology operates in substations, industrial plants, renewable generation facilities, and mission‑critical infrastructure worldwide.

Are you the person we’re looking for? Our customers in electric utilities, industrial automation, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure rely on SEL for dependable protection, automation, and control solutions.

As an Application Engineer, you will work directly with these customers as a trusted technical advisor, helping them design, implement, and optimize SEL solutions. You will serve as a key technical resource supporting both pre‑ and post‑sales activities, building strong customer relationships, supporting system design decisions, and ensuring successful deployment of SEL technologies. You are someone who thrives at the intersection of engineering and customer engagement. You enjoy solving complex power system and automation challenges, but you also understand how technical decisions impact operational reliability and business outcomes. You can collaborate with protection and automation engineers one hour and support a sales engineer in closing a project the next. You are curious, practical, and driven to help customers build safe and reliable systems.

In return, SEL offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work on mission‑critical infrastructure alongside a highly collaborative and purpose‑driven team. We are open to hiring this role in our Burnaby or Calgary offices.

In this role, you will:

• Serve as the technical representative of SEL, acting as a liaison between customers and SEL engineering, manufacturing, and support teams
• Provide technical expertise on SEL protection, automation, and communications solutions in both pre‑sales and post‑sales engagements
• Support the sales team with consultative technical guidance, including system design, device selection, and solution architecture
• Assist customers with application design, settings development, configuration, testing, and commissioning support
• Manage customer technical requirements from project initiation through commissioning and ongoing support
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customer engineering and operations teams to identify new opportunities and ensure long‑term success
• Deliver technical presentations, training sessions, and demonstrations both on‑site and virtually
• Participate in industry events, trade shows, and technical seminars representing SEL
• Develop and maintain knowledge of industry trends, standards, and competitive solutions to support continuous improvement
• Travel to customer sites as needed (typically 25–30% travel)

You will have:

• Experience working at the intersection of customer engagement and engineering, ideally in a technical sales or application engineering role
• Hands‑on experience with power systems, protection relays, automation systems, or industrial control systems
• Strong understanding of power system fundamentals, including protection schemes, SCADA, communications protocols (e.g., DNP3, IEC 61850), and substation automation
• Experience with commissioning, testing, or configuring protective relays and control systems is an asset
• Familiarity with industrial networking and cybersecurity principles is an asset
• Knowledge of utility, industrial, or renewable energy markets
• Broad understanding of trends in grid modernization, digital substations, and power system reliability
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect technical solutions to customer value
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to perform effectively in high‑pressure field or customer environments
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Ability to write and speak English coherently

Bonus qualifications:

• Experience with SEL products or similar protection and control platforms
• Knowledge of power system protection standards and practices (IEEE, IEC)
• Experience with SEL software, and/or SEL RTAC & Automation platforms
• Background in substation commissioning, protection coordination, or system studies

Pay Range Data

New hires generally start with a base salary between $95,000 - $120,000 per year depending on skills and experience. We base our starting pay offer on location and job‑related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

Retirement & Employee Ownership

We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.

Health & Insurance

We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.

Work‑Life Balance

We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.

Professional Growth

We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs. Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Equity and Diversity

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

Communication with Applicants: We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [e-mail].

SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100 percent employee-owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers worldwide. Our mission is simple: to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.