P&C Lead Test Engineer

PowerX; Charleston (WV); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay

Incentives for Certifications

Referral Bonus Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Medical, dental, vision, LTD, STD, and

other ancillary products

Job summary

POWERX is seeking a P&C Lead Test Engineer to spearhead testing, commissioning, validation, and operational integration of protection and control systems across transmission, distribution, and generation substations. You will guide field teams, ensure safety, reliability, and conformance with utility standards and POWERX philosophy, while working on brownfield and greenfield projects.

You will demonstrate deep knowledge of topology, relay logic, AC/DC fundamentals, and IEC 61850 communications,

Qualifications

• Experience leading testing, commissioning, validation of protection and control systems.
• Ability to interpret relay protection schemes and system topology.
• Experience working in energized substations up to 500 kV.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and validation across substations.
• Perform relay protection testing using Doble, Omicron, RTS and related platforms.
• Validate protection and control systems including line, transformer, bus, and breaker protection.
• Oversee SCADA and RTU testing and IEC 61850 networks.

Skills

Leadership

Testing strategy

Troubleshooting

Field mentoring

Client communication

Tools

Doble

Omicron

RTS

SEL AcSELerator

GE Enervista

Job description

ABOUT US

At POWERX, we make power work. We deliver engineering, protection and control, commissioning, NETA field services, and compliance, supporting the full lifecycle of power infrastructure. With a multinational footprint across the United States and Canada, we bring technical depth and field-proven experience to every project. POWERX is built on four pillars, with our people as the foundation. Guided by our values, HEART, our people-first culture shapes how we show up for each other and for our clients because we believe the best work comes from people who feel valued and supported. That commitment to excellence has been recognized nationally, including Great Place to Work, Fortune Best Workplace in Construction, and Power Best Companies. In an industry where technology and complexity are ever-changing, we’re ready to help you meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s innovations. Work with a team that’s powered by excellence.

OUR POWERX PERKS

• Competitive Pay
• Incentives for Certifications
• Referral Bonus Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Medical, dental, vision, LTD, STD, Basic Life/AD&D, and other ancillary products
• 401k program with a company match
• Performance Program
• Paid Parental Leave
• PTO including Wellness Days and Paid Holidays
• And much more!

Job Summary

The P&C Lead Test Engineer is responsible for leading the testing, commissioning, validation, and operational integration of protection and control systems across transmission, distribution, and generation substations. This role serves as both a technical leader and field mentor ensuring electrical systems operate safely, reliably, and in accordance with utility standards, engineered design intent, and POWERX commissioning philosophy. The P&C Lead Test Engineer is expected to understand not only how to perform testing, but also why the system behaves the way it does. This includes understanding system topology, protection philosophy, sequence components, relay logic, AC/DC fundamentals, communications architecture, human performance principles, and the operational impact of testing decisions inside energized substations. This role confidently leads in high-pressure environments, mentors developing Test Engineers, communicates effectively with clients and operations personnel, and takes ownership of project execution from planning through energization and turnover. This position supports greenfield and brownfield commissioning projects involving relay protection systems, SCADA integration, IEC 61850 communications, RTUs, breaker controls, transformer protection, bus protection, line protection, and system restoration activities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead advanced testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and operational validation activities across transmission, distribution, and generation substations.
• Perform and oversee relay protection testing using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, and equivalent testing platforms.
• Validate complete protection and control systems including line, transformer, bus, feeder, breaker failure, reclosing, transfer trip, and communication-assisted protection schemes.
• Execute end-to-end testing and operational verification of relay protection systems, SCADA, RTUs, IEC 61850 networks, GOOSE messaging, telecom systems, breaker controls, and station communications.
• Perform and validate CT/PT testing including ratio, polarity, phasing, CT saturation characteristics, and single-point grounding verification.
• Interpret and troubleshoot relay logic, phasors, event reports, oscillography, sequence components, and fault behavior to identify abnormal system conditions and operational risks.
• Apply advanced understanding of AC/DC power system fundamentals, complex power and power factor, symmetrical components, protection zones and coordination philosophy, transmission line/transformer/bus and breaker failure protection, instrument transformer behavior and application, and system topology impacts on protection operation.
• Read, interpret, and validate one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, relay settings files, and panel layouts.
• Support switching activities, outage coordination, energization, restoration efforts, and operational turnover within energized substations up to 500kV.
• Treat every testing scope as a system validation exercise, not an isolated component check.
• Lead complex utility commissioning projects while coordinating field execution with project management, engineering, construction, and client operations.
• Review engineered drawings, relay settings, logic diagrams, one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts for technical accuracy and constructability.
• Identify design gaps, relay logic concerns, drawing inconsistencies, and operational risks before energization.
• Develop test plans, isolation plans, energization plans, commissioning procedures, Human…