Engineer II/III | System Protection

Arizona Public Service Company; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a System Protection Engineer II/III to design and implement protection schemes for transmission systems. This role involves complex engineering design and providing analytical support to enhance system reliability. The ideal candidate will apply advanced engineering methods and may offer guidance to junior engineers. Join a forward-thinking company that values sustainability and innovation, and contribute to projects that shape the future of energy in Arizona. If you are passionate about engineering and eager to make a difference, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
• 2-5 years of engineering experience depending on the level.

Responsibilities

• Develop and revise relay settings for the transmission system.
• Maintain documentation of all relay settings in the system.
• Support field personnel during testing and commissioning.

Skills

Feeder relay settings

Bus relay settings

Transformer relay settings

Transmission line relay settings

Short circuit software

Unbalanced short circuit calculation

Power system transients

Generator/system stability

Capacitor bank relay settings

Event analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Digital Fault recorders

Job description

Arizona Public Service generates clean, reliable and affordable energy for 2.7 million Arizonans. Our service territory stretches across the state, from the border town of Douglas to the vistas of the Grand Canyon, from the solar fields of Gila Bend to the ponderosa pines of Payson. As the state’s largest and longest-serving energy provider, our more than 6,000 dedicated employees power our vision of creating a sustainable energy future for Arizona.

Since our founding in 1886, APS has demonstrated a strong commitment to our customers in one of the country’s fastest growing states, earning a reputation for customer satisfaction, shareholder value, operational excellence and business integrity.

Our present and future success depends on the creative and dedicated people of our company who demonstrate the principles outlined in the APS Promise: Design for Tomorrow, Empower Each Other and Succeed Together.

The System Protection Engineer II/III is responsible for specifying, designing, and implementing protection schemes for the transmission system and substations. This role performs complex engineering design, system modifications, and provides economic and analytical support for various projects and programs.

Working under general guidance, the Engineer II/III applies advanced engineering methods and analysis to develop effective solutions and ensure system reliability. The position may also offer limited technical guidance and leadership to junior engineers or team members. The role includes periodic on-call duties to provide real-time system support and troubleshooting.

A four (4)-year Bachelor's degree in an Engineering discipline or related applied science discipline (see approved list) from an ABET accredited institution, an International Engineering Alliance (IEA) recognized institution or an ABET Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).

Two (2) years working experience in Engineering-related positions.

Engineer III

A Bachelor's degree (4 years) in an engineering discipline or related applied science discipline (see approved list) from an ABET accredited institution, an International Engineering Alliance (IEA) recognized institution or an ABET Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) PLUS five (5) years working experience in Engineering-related positions.

Preferred Special Skills, Knowledge or Qualifications:

• Is proficient at feeder relay settings and can complete them without supervision. May be asked to develop scope for feeder relay upgrade projects.
• Is proficient at bus relay settings and can complete them without supervision. May be asked to develop scope for bus protection relay upgrades.
• Can perform transformer relay settings with limited supervision. Understands principles of transformer protection and transformer protection design.
• Can perform transmission line relay settings with limited supervision (excluding EHV and series compensated lines). Understands principles of transmission line protection and transmission line protection design.
• Is an intermediate user of short circuit software and knows how to use the tool to perform studies for feeder protection, bus protection, transformer protection, capacitor protection, and transmission line protection.
• Understands concepts about symmetrical components and can perform unbalanced short circuit calculation for radial systems. Is introduced to unbalanced short circuit calculations for networked systems using symmetrical components.
• Understands concepts about typical power system transients and is familiar with typical applications where transients may challenge protection systems.
• Understands basic concepts of generator/system stability and can apply them when working on projects involving generator interconnections on the distribution system.
• Is introduced to generator interconnection projects on the transmission system under the supervision of a Senior or Consulting engineer.
• Can perform capacitor bank relay settings with limited supervision. Understands principles of capacitor bank protection and capacitor bank protection design.
• Understands the principles of event analysis and root cause analysis. Can perform sound event and root cause analysis on most normal fault operations. May need assistance on more complex events.
• Understands how protection practices affect transmission and distribution reliability metrics. Evaluates own work practices and departmental work practices for consistency with overall company reliability objectives.
• May be assigned NERC compliance duties under the supervision of a Senior or Consulting engineer.
• Is introduced to advance transmission line protection applications: series compensated lines and power swing blocking.

Approved Engineer degrees:
Materials Science/Metallurgy, Physics, Chemistry, Math, Nuclear, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Electronics, Computer Science, Environmental, Chemical, Architectural, Structural.
(A four-year bachelor of Engineering Technology degree is not considered an automatic equivalent for a B.S. degree in Engineering. A review of the degree program curriculum must be completed by Engineering department management.)

Major Accountabilities

1. Develop or revise relay settings in support of modifications to the transmission system.
2. Maintain an up-to-date short circuit model of the APS transmission and sub-transmission system.
3. Maintain up-to-date documentation of all relay settings in the transmission and sub-transmission system.
4. Develop programs/projects to improve existing protection systems across the APS transmission system.
5. Periodically review relay settings across the system to ensure adequate coordination and protection.
6. Provide support to field personnel during testing and commissioning of protection schemes.
7. Provide support to operations personnel during system events.
8. Review protection system operations to determine correct operation or misoperation.
9. Participate in root cause analysis following the declaration of a protection system misoperation.
10. Participate in NERC Compliance activities in support of applicable PRC and CIP standards.
11. Specification, design, create settings, and keep settings records of Digital Fault recorders installed in APS.

Export Compliance / EEO Statement

This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to control under the Department of Energy's Part 810 Regulations (10 CFR Part 810), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730 through 774), or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter M Part 120) (collectively, 'U.S. Export Control Laws'). Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. All applicants will be required to confirm their U.S. person or non-U.S. person status. All information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws, and will be used in full compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS) all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ('Pinnacle West') maintain a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, compensating, reassigning, demoting, transferring, laying off, recalling, terminating employment, and training for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other classification or characteristic protected by law.

For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to EEO is the Law poster. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of every person hired to work in the United States, refer to E-Verify poster. View the employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

In compliance with the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the Company is committed to a work environment that is free from the effects of alcohol and controlled substances, and free from the abuse or inappropriate use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications. The Company requires employees to be subject to drug and alcohol testing that is job-related and consistent with business necessity, regulatory requirements and applicable laws.

Onsite: Requires work to be performed in the field and/or at an APS facility. Depending on the responsibilities of the role, this may include, but is not limited to, working at a power plant, job site, or in the community.

*Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).

*Role types are subject to change based on business need.

Job Segment: Transmission Line, Power Plant Operator, Sustainability, Power Plant, Nuclear, Energy