Design Engineer - Protection & Controls

otsi-global; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

otsi-global is seeking a Design Engineer in Topeka, KS, to handle engineering designs for electric substation and transmission line control and protection systems. This role requires a Bachelor's in electrical engineering and utility experience.

The engineer will ensure compliance with standards, design intricate relay systems, and collaborate closely with team members to produce detailed project scopes and budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited program.
• Utility experience in electric substation and transmission line equipment.
• Knowledge of electric power engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Perform engineering design for electric substation and transmission line systems.
• Specify equipment for reliability and safety.
• Produce project scopes and cost estimates for budgeting.

Skills

Electric power engineering

Attention to detail

Effective communication

Advanced mathematics

Proficiency in word processing and spreadsheets

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Tools

SCADA

Technical drawing software

Job description

Design Engineer – Protection and Controls

(Topeka, KS – Onsite)

Major Responsibilities

• Under the direction of the Manager of System Protection Engineering and/or Sr Manager TS Engineering, perform engineering design related to the company's electric substation, transmission line, and generation equipment control and fault protection systems.
• Work closely with other Client System Protection Engineers in developing P&C designs for assigned project work.
• Familiarize with engineering documents and drawings.
• Perform design relating to the company's electric substation, transmission line and generation equipment control systems and fault protection systems to ensure reliability and safety.
• Specify substation equipment using substation ratings (e.g., bus, ground mat, conduit, switches, power circuit breakers, transformers, relay panels, instrumentation, capacitor banks, reactor banks) to ensure reliability and safety.
• Design protective relay systems, metering and SCADA by referencing standards, past projects, new research, regulations and system requirements to ensure reliability and safety.
• Gather and analyze system ratings (e.g., voltage, power ratings, ampacity, system impedance, CT ratios, and relay settings) by researching substation current conditions and configurations to provide data to reporting agencies (SPP, NERC, FERC) and meet new system requirements.
• Produce detailed system protection and control project scopes and cost estimates to assist in multi‑year projects and budget planning.
• Support both operations and construction personnel as needed in troubleshooting, failure analysis, mis‑operations, testing assistance, commissioning assistance and other technical duties.
• Prepare and study technical drawings and specifications of electrical systems and equipment to ensure that installation and operations conform to requirements (e.g., company, protection, code).
• Direct designers and technicians by reviewing work and monitoring progress to ensure compliance with safety and regulations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited program.
• Utility experience directly related to electric substation, generation, and transmission line equipment control and fault protection systems.
• Knowledge of basic engineering principles and advanced mathematics.
• Knowledge of electric power engineering including schematic, wiring, and logic diagrams.
• Understanding of Generation, Transmission and Distribution system relays and associated protection schemes.
• Ability to develop elementary drawings, relay logic and settings for system protection designs.
• Dependable, self‑motivated, detail‑oriented with excellent organizational and proofreading skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with other company personnel.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets and databases is preferred.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities and operate efficiently in a high‑stress environment.