Lead Grid Protection Engineer - Hybrid/Remote

Sargent Lundy; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans

Life & Accident Insurance

401(k)

Paid Vacation

Flexible Work Arrangements

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Senior System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team. You will lead development of protection philosophies, perform system protection studies, and configure microprocessor relays for high‑voltage projects across transmission and substations.

You will use CAPE/ASPEN and vendor tools (SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista) and manage protection data in Powerbase, collaborating with substation design and commissioning teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited program.
• 7+ years of system protection engineering experience for transmission/substation projects with hands-on relay settings and protection studies.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and application of protection philosophies and settings for transmission lines, transformers, buses, and capacitor/reactor banks.
• Perform fault studies and relay coordination using CAPE/ASPEN (or equivalent).
• Configure, set, and troubleshoot microprocessor-based protective relays using vendor software.
• Manage records and configuration data in Powerbase and align with standards and change control.
• Review P&C design documents (one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring, logic, panels).
• Support protection event analysis, misoperation investigations, and recommendations for improvements.
• Support commissioning and field energization, including test plans and RFIs.
• Provide relocation-ready guidance where applicable; participate in design coordination with substation teams.

Skills

System protection engineering

Relay settings

Protection studies

Fault studies

CAPE/ASPEN tools

Powerbase databases

P&C drawings interpretation

IEEE/ANSI/NERC PRC standards

Project leadership

Communication skills

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

SEL AcSELerator

EnerVista

Other OEM relay software

Job description

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Senior System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team. You will lead development of protection philosophies, perform system protection studies, and configure microprocessor relays for high‑voltage projects across transmission and substations.

You will use CAPE/ASPEN and vendor tools (SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista) and manage protection data in Powerbase, collaborating with substation design and commissioning teams.