Lead System Protection Engineer — Hybrid Role

Sargent & Lundy; Metairie (LA); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

Life Insurance

Disability Coverage

401(k)

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Flexible Work Arrangements

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team in a hybrid role. You will lead protection philosophy development, perform system protection studies, and configure relays using vendor software, while coordinating P&C design with substation teams.

The role requires 10+ years in protection engineering, ABET‑accredited Electrical Engineering, and strong communication with utility clients and field teams. Hybrid work and relocation support are provided.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 10+ years of system protection engineering for transmission/substation projects.
• Strong background in protection philosophies for line/transformer/bus/capacitor/reactor protection.
• Experience with CAPE/ASPEN or equivalent protection analysis tools.
• Familiar with relay configuration tools (SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista, etc.).
• Experience using Powerbase or similar relay databases.
• Ability to interpret P&C drawings (one-lines, three-lines, schematics).
• Familiar with IEEE/ANSI/NERC PRC standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication with utility clients and field teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead protection philosophy development for lines, transformers, buses, breakers, and capacitor/reactor banks.
• Perform short-circuit analyses, relay coordination, and time-current curve development.
• Configure and troubleshoot microprocessor relays using vendor software.
• Manage relay records and settings in Powerbase and ensure change-control.
• Support event analysis, misoperation investigations, and protection improvements.
• Coordinate P&C design documents with substation design teams (one-lines, wiring, layouts).
• Support commissioning and field energization; respond to RFIs and field questions.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

Protection engineering

Relay settings

Protection philosophies

P&C coordination

Client coordination

DOC reviews

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

SEL AcSELerator

EnerVista

OEM relay software

Powerbase

Job description

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team in a hybrid role. You will lead protection philosophy development, perform system protection studies, and configure relays using vendor software, while coordinating P&C design with substation teams.

The role requires 10+ years in protection engineering, ABET‑accredited Electrical Engineering, and strong communication with utility clients and field teams. Hybrid work and relocation support are provided.