Lead Engineer - Protection & Control

Qualus; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

Retirement savings plans

Paid Time Off

Company Holidays

Job summary

Qualus is seeking a Lead Protection & Control Engineer to design high-voltage substation protection and control systems, mentor junior engineers, and drive technical excellence across complex utility projects.

You will work with clients and cross-functional teams from concept through construction, ensuring quality, safety, and reliability while delivering innovative, code-compliant engineering solutions for the electric grid.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited electrical engineering degree.
• 10+ years in substation protection & control design.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong documentation, organization, and QA/QC mindset.
• Effective written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Design substation protection and control systems per codes and client standards (one-line, three-line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, SCADA).
• Develop protective relaying and control system designs for transmission/distribution substations.
• Create equipment/specifications for procurement and cost estimates.
• Lead or participate in client meetings and site visits for data collection and design delivery.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure project execution and issue resolution.
• Mentor junior engineers and ensure QA/QC compliance of design packages.

Skills

P&C design engineering

MS Office proficiency

Documentation & QA/QC

Attention to detail

Project management

Written & verbal communication

Team collaboration

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Power your Future with Qualus

as a Lead Protection & Control Engineer. As a Lead Substation P&C Engineer, you’ll serve as the technical subject matter expert, leading the design of high-voltage substations that power communities and critical infrastructure. You'll develop innovative, code-compliant engineering solutions, mentor junior engineers, and help drive technical excellence across complex utility projects. Working closely with clients and across cross-functional teams, you'll influence project success from concept through construction while ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety, and reliability. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced engineer who enjoys solving challenging technical problems, developing others, and making a lasting impact on the future of the electric grid.

Responsibilities

• Design substation protection and control systems utilizing applicable codes and client standards (if available). Typical design to include one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC and DC schematics, logic diagrams, functional diagrams, panel layouts, wiring and connection diagrams, interconnection diagrams, communications systems, bill of materials, and SCADA systems.
• Develop protective relaying and control system designs for transmission and distribution substations.
• Develop relay protection schemes, relay settings criteria, control philosophies, and associated engineering calculations.
• Create equipment and material specifications for procurement of engineered equipment, as well as development of design scope and cost estimates.
• Complete conceptual protection and control designs and layouts for new and existing substation facilities.
• Prepare additional support documentation as needed to assist procurement, construction, commissioning, and operation/maintenance of systems being designed.
• Direct and/or participate in client meetings/job site visits to collect or deliver design and engineering data.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, clients, vendors, and contractors to ensure successful project execution and resolution of technical issues.
• Lead and participate in client meetings and job site visits to collect design data, present engineering solutions, resolve technical issues, and support project execution.
• Lead and ensure compliance with the company’s Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) processes, including technical review and approval of engineering design packages.
• Provide technical mentorship and oversight to junior engineers and designers, including reviewing calculations, drawings, and specifications to ensure quality, consistency, and compliance with project requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (or a related engineering discipline) from an ABET accredited institution.
• 10+ years of experience in Substation Protection & Control design engineering.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent document management and organization skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment and interact professionally with clients and stakeholders.

Benefits & Compensation

Qualus offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, which may include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage, Retirement Savings Plans (including employer matching where applicable), Flexible Spending and/or Health Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, and Company Holidays. Benefits offerings may vary based on position, work location, and eligibility requirements.

The compensation range for this position is provided in accordance with applicable laws and market practices. The final base salary offered may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, internal equity, performance, and business needs. Compensation ranges are subject to change at the Company's discretion and as permitted by applicable law.

Company Overview

Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, energy efficiency and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 2,000 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.

We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.