Lead Protective Relay Tech – Substations & HV Protection

Asplundh Electrical Testing; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plan

Company-provided life insurance

Supplemental life insurance options

Disability coverage

Pre-paid legal plan

EAP for well-being

Paid time off

Job summary

Asplundh Electrical Testing seeks a Senior Relay Technician to lead protective relay testing, calibration, and commissioning for utility substations. You will guide field crews, review complex protection schemes, and ensure safe, reliable operation of medium- and high-voltage systems.

Travel regionally to customer sites, mentor onsite technicians, and contribute to outage planning and testing reports. A strong safety background and NETA credentials are preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in protective relaying for utility substations.
• Demonstrated experience testing medium- to high-voltage protection systems.
• Strong working knowledge of microprocessor-based relays.
• Experience with modern relay test platforms.
• Solid understanding of utility safety rules and energized work practices.
• Ability to interpret protection diagrams, AC/DC schematics, wiring and logic drawings.
• Valid driver’s license; ability to work outdoors, travel, and lift up to 70 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Lead job briefings and safety tailboards, reinforcing a Safety First culture.
• Perform protective relay testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and commissioning on medium- and high-voltage systems.
• Test and validate transmission and distribution protection schemes (distance, differential, overcurrent, breaker failure, bus protection).
• Verify control and protection circuits for transformers, breakers, feeders, capacitor banks and reactors.
• Support outage planning, switching coordination, energization, and restoration activities.
• Perform event analysis, relay target review, and disturbance investigations.
• Lead and mentor onsite technicians; coordinate with project managers and utility customers.
• Create and maintain accurate test reports and field documentation.
• Participate in job walks, project estimating, and customer technical discussions.
• Serve as a technical resource and trainer for developing relay technicians.

Skills

Protective relaying

Substation testing

Microprocessor relays

Relay test platforms

Safety procedures

Reading schematics

Driver's license

Outdoor travel

Education

NETA Level III/IV

Technical degree or military training

OSHA 10/30

Tools

Relay test platforms

Job description

Asplundh Electrical Testing seeks a Senior Relay Technician to lead protective relay testing, calibration, and commissioning for utility substations. You will guide field crews, review complex protection schemes, and ensure safe, reliable operation of medium- and high-voltage systems.

Travel regionally to customer sites, mentor onsite technicians, and contribute to outage planning and testing reports. A strong safety background and NETA credentials are preferred.