Lead Relay Field Engineer

Qualus; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation bonus

Referral bonus

Per diem

Overtime pay

Company truck

Travel and housing support

Career development

Job summary

Qualus is seeking a Lead Relay Field Engineer to join our Field Engineering team. The role focuses on calibrating, installing, maintaining, and repairing protective relays and associated equipment to ensure reliable electric grid operation.

You will lead commissioning activities, interpret substation drawings, and mentor junior staff while traveling to client sites across the US. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of field experience in relaying, protection schemes, and SCADA integration, with

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of field experience in commissioning, panel and equipment checkout, relay calibration, testing and repairing substation relaying and control schemes.
• Experience in substation protection & control engineering, SCADA/Fault Data/SER/Integration-Automation is desirable.
• Strong communication and leadership skills for field teams.

Responsibilities

• Interpret project scope and plan commissioning, resource scheduling, and provide team leadership for test activities.
• Interpret substation drawings (single line, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, panel layouts).
• Write procedures and test plans for maintenance and construction activities, including isolation plans and guidelines.
• Perform testing: volt/current verification, metering, relay calibration, trip testing, alarm verification, and function checks.
• Lead and perform routine troubleshooting and repair of substation relaying and control equipment; commission new substations and related equipment.
• Provide technical support and mentorship to field service personnel and act as SME in protective relaying.
• Serve as technical lead for small project teams.

Skills

Protective relaying

Substation commissioning

Relay calibration

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Education

ABET Electrical Engineering degree

Associate degree / AET

Tools

Relay test equipment

SCADA testing tools

Job description

Position Overview

Power your future with Qualus in our Field Engineering department as a Lead Relay Field Engineer. The Lead Relay Field Engineer calibrates, installs, maintains, and repairs protective relays and associated equipment to ensure the efficient, safe, reliable operation of the electric grid. They will be required to maintain, install, repair, and troubleshoot complex control systems, protective relay systems (microprocessor and electro-mechanical); substation and electric utility protection systems; station automation and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.

Incentives

• Sign-on/Relocation Bonus up to $10k.
• External and Internal Referral Bonuses up to $10k.
• Per Diem up to $225 depending on client.
• Overtime: Up to 50+ working hours per week depending on client.
• Company Truck for company and personal use.
• Career development opportunities, including strong mentors and company investment.
• Travel Schedule & Paid Travel Home: 3 weeks travel to client site with paid housing and long weekend (~3 days) home.
• Location: Candidate may live anywhere in the US and travel to the client location if relocation is not preferred.

Responsibilities

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET university or Associates/ AET degree, degree with an emphasis on power systems preferred.
• Interprets project-level scope of work and effectively plans commissioning and resource scheduling and provides team leadership for completing test activities efficiently, on time and without service interruptions, adhering to all established safety protocol.
• Interprets substation drawings (e.g., single line drawings, AC and DC schematics, panel wiring diagrams, and panel layout drawings).
• Writing procedures and/or test plans in support of maintenance and construction activities including development of isolation plans and functional guidelines.
• Testing, including (without limitation): reading/verifying all voltage and current inputs to relays; verifying all metering (local and SCADA); calibrating all relays; trip testing (local and SCADA); verifying all alarms (local and SCADA); verifying all alarms (local and SCADA); verifying all function switches, etc.
• Leading and performing routine troubleshooting and repair of substation relaying and control equipment. Commission new substations, power equipment, relaying (electro-mechanical, solid state and microprocessor), pilot channel equipment (power line carrier, pilot wire, transfer, transfer trip, fiber optic, CVT’s, line tuners, line traps, etc.), controls and communications equipment.
• Providing Project Technical Support to Field Service personnel.
• Providing technical mentorship to junior level field service personnel.
• Is considered a subject matter expert in the area of protective relaying in the field.
• Serve as a technical lead for small project teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of field experience in commissioning, panel and equipment checkout, relay calibration, testing and repairing substation relaying and control schemes
• Experience is desirable in any of the following related areas: substation design (including protection & control engineering); substation construction; substation commissioning; SCADA/Fault Data/SER/Integration-Automation equipment installation and testing.
• 3 phase power systems; power system protection & control schemes; test equipment; test equipment software
• Test equipment and toll/wiring usage; interpretation of wiring and elementary diagrams; basic test skills to perform duties listed above; basic PC skills.
• Quickly learn and apply test procedures for various types of substation equipment; communicate effectively with diverse groups, tailoring communication for audience and situation.
• Learn and apply client’s switching procedures and safety measures as required.
• Reference and complete assignments as described in applicable specifications.
• Perform regular field work both indoors and outdoors.
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, business acumen, management ability
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Valid Driver’s license and good driving record
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (inclusive of reading and writing) due to the nature of safety-related materials, documentation, and interactions with clients.

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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.