Associate Electrical Engineer Substation Protection and SCADA

CenterPoint Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Paid training

Benefits eligibility on day one

Transit subsidies

Flexible schedule & PTO

Wellness center discounts (Houston)

Tuition reimbursement

401(k) company match

Job summary

CenterPoint Energy is seeking an Associate Engineer with a focus on electric utility protection and substation automation. The role involves designing protection schemes, programming relays and PLCs, and supporting commissioning to maintain system reliability.

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and preferred internship/experience in power engineering. Participation in the EOP and field work are part of the duties, with a strong emphasis on NERC/ERCOT standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Experience or internship in electric utility power engineering preferred.
• Knowledge of protection schemes, relays, and SCADA is required.

Responsibilities

• Design and modify substation protection schemes and relaying settings.
• Program substation relays, PLCs, and RTUs for visibility and control.
• Develop substation automation and SCADA schemes across vendors and sites.
• Support field personnel during commissioning and fault analysis.
• Ensure compliance with NERC and ERCOT standards in projects.

Skills

Protection schemes

SCADA systems

Relay programming

NERC/ERCOT compliance

IEC 61850

Substation automation

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

Job Summary

Specify, design, and modify power system protection schemes and substation automation & SCADA schemes. Develop protective relaying settings and assist in the commissioning of electric utility substations to maintain the integrity and stability of the CNP electric system. Evaluate and apply NERC and ERCOT compliance standards.

Essential Functions

• Develop substation protection schemes and specify relays for use in independent primary and back-up relaying systems, interact with other engineering sections, equipment vendors, engineering firms, and construction contractors.


• Calculate and program substation protective relay set points for electromechanical and microprocessor relays and issue to field personnel.


• Design substation automation and SCADA systems. Program substation relays, PLCs, and RTUs to provide visibility, control, and accurate system data of the CNP electric system.


• Interact with independent power producers, industrial customers, engineering firms, and construction contractors providing technical assistance and commissioning of new equipment for the interconnection with the CNP electric system.


• Provide support to field personnel in commissioning of new facilities and the troubleshooting of existing substation facilities.


• Analyze fault events and develop sequence of events reports following system disturbances, with data obtained from digital fault recorders and microprocessor relays.


• Evaluate and apply compliance standards from NERC and ERCOT, including NERC CIP standards, to the protection and SCADA automation schemes


• Design digital distribution substations using GOOSE, Sampled Values, and MMS of the IEC 61850 protocol with different equipment from various vendors

Education Description

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering from an accredited college or university.

Experience

Associate Engineer - Electric utility or power engineering internship/co-op experience is preferred.

Working Conditions

• Required to participate in CenterPoint Energy's Emergency Operation Plan (EOP).


• Able to work indoors in an office environment and outdoors with occasional exposure to all weather conditions, equipment, and noise when at field installation sites.


• Able to operate a motor vehicle and drive a motor vehicle daily or for extended time periods, in a safe manner.

We want you to know

Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together.

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay


• Paid training


• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day


• Transit subsidies


• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off


• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston


• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement


• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

Job Type: Full Time
Posting Start Date: 08/05/2026
Posting End Date: 08/28/2026

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR * 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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