Integration & Automation Engineer - IEC 61850

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 108,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

401(k)

Health benefits

Vacation & holidays

Tuition assistance

Engineering development programs

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. (SEL) in Charlotte, NC seeks a senior engineer to lead IEC 61850 feature research, design, and architecture across SEL’s hardware and software lines.

You will develop system-level requirements, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and mentor engineers to maintain leadership in digital substation solutions. You will drive data models, GOOSE/SV/MMS implementations, and SCL workflows while evaluating new technologies and translating standards into

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering required.
• 6+ years in power system protection, automation, or substation communications.
• IEC 61850 expertise including data modeling, SCL workflows, GOOSE, MMS, and system architectures.
• Knowledge of IEC60870-5-103/‑101/‑104, Modbus, DNP3, PRP, IEEE1588 PTP, and SEL protocols; substation integration patterns.
• Experience in designing or implementing protection, automation, or SCADA systems in utility/industrial environments.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead research, design, and specification of IEC 61850 features, models, and architectures across hardware and software product lines.
• Develop system-level requirements, functional specs, and design docs for near-term and future SEL products.
• Architect and evaluate GOOSE, SV, MMS, digital substations, and engineering workflows.
• Mentor R&D teams and ensure interoperable, reliable system designs.
• Collaborate with firmware, hardware, software, test, cybersecurity, and product teams; translate standards into product direction.

Skills

IEC61850 expertise

GOOSE/SV/MMS

Data modeling

SCL workflows

Substation comms

Leadership

Mentorship

Documentation

Team collaboration

Power systems

Education

B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering

M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline

Tools

Wireshark

SCL tools

Job description

Lead the specification, design, and verification of IEC61850 communication, data‑modeling, and automation capabilities used across current and future SEL products. Serve as the subject‑matter expert for digital substation architectures, GOOSE/SV/MMS applications, SCL engineering workflows, and related power‑system communication technologies. Provide technical leadership and mentorship to cross‑functional hardware, firmware, software, and power‑systems engineering teams to ensure consistent, robust, and interoperable implementation of IEC61850 features.

Responsibilities

Lead the research, design, and specification of IEC 61850 features, models, and architectures across SEL’s hardware and software product lines. Develop system‑level requirements, functional specifications, and design documentation for both near‑term and future SEL products. Architect and evaluate innovative approaches for GOOSE, SV, MMS, digital substations, automation schemes, data models, and engineering workflows. Support and guide cross‑functional R&D teams as the domain authority for IEC 61850 application, performance, conformance, and design tradeoffs. Translate emerging standards into actionable product direction. Conduct feasibility studies, perform simulation or lab testing, and evaluate new technologies. Collaborate with firmware, hardware, software, test, cybersecurity, and product teams to ensure cohesive, reliable system designs. Partner with product management to assess market needs, develop competitive/technical analysis, and recommend product enhancements for integration, commissioning, and testing workflows. Mentor junior engineers and contribute to developing team‑wide technical expertise in IEC 61850 and digital substation engineering. Provide system‑level engineering support during product development, reviews, architecture discussions, and critical design decisions. Continuously learn, model SEL values, and help maintain SEL’s leadership in reliable protection, automation, and control systems.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in power system protection, automation, or substation communications engineering.
• Demonstrated expertise with IEC 61850 - including data modeling, SCL workflows, GOOSE, MMS, sampled values, and system architectures.
• Knowledge of IEC60870‑5‑103/‑101/‑104, Modbus, DNP3, PRP, IEEE1588 PTP, and SEL protocols; deep understanding of substation integration patterns, client/server and publisher/subscriber models, network redundancy, and time synchronization.
• Experience designing or implementing protection, automation, or SCADA systems in utility or industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of electric power systems, relay protection fundamentals, communications networks, and automation schemes.
• Ability to develop clear, detailed engineering documentation, specifications, and system designs.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills.
• Ability to learn new skills, assume new responsibilities, and work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Background check results satisfactory to SEL.
• Negative drug test result(s).

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience with SEL products, tools, and engineering workflows.
• Hands‑on experience configuring or deploying digital substations or IEC61850‑based automation schemes.
• Experience with IEC61850 engineering artifacts and tools (SCL/SSD/IID/ICD/CID, SCT workflows).
• Hands‑on experience with Wireshark or equivalent for MMS/GOOSE/Sampled Values analysis; familiarity with VLANs/QoS, network simulation, and impairment testing.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements for substation automation systems.

Location

Charlotte, NC

Competitive pay

Superior benefits. Inspiring work. People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees. We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options. We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. 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. 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.

Pay Range

• Lead Integration & Automation Engineer: $107,600 - $161,500
• Development Lead Integration & Automation Engineer $129,200 - $193,900

We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

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].

Equal Opportunity Employer

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

About SEL

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.