Pre Commissioning Engineer

Actalent; United States; Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and R

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick)

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Pre-Commissioning Engineer to oversee substation protection and controls projects from the Amarillo office, coordinating construction-phase activities and pre-commissioning across the Texas/Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico.

The role requires hands-on wiring experience (#10 AWG and smaller), relay testing, SCADA integration, and collaboration with relay technicians to verify protection functions before commissioning; typical schedule is five days a week, ~10

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of field experience in substation protection and controls.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and substation design documentation.
• Hands-on experience with substation wiring, typically involving #10 AWG and smaller conductors.
• Practical experience as a relay technician or in roles involving relay equipment and protection systems.
• Solid understanding of protection and control principles for high voltage substations.
• Experience with relay testing, switchgear, and high voltage transmission equipment.
• Familiarity with substation design and electric utility transmission environments.
• Knowledge of SCADA systems and their integration with substation protection and control.
• Ability to work onsite for extended periods, five days per week and 10 hours per day.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the Texas / Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico.

Responsibilities

• Manage substation protection and controls projects throughout construction and pre-commissioning phases.
• Work in greenfield and brownfield substations at different energization stages, ensuring readiness for commissioning.
• Interpret and work from schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical drawings related to substation protection and control systems.
• Coordinate and schedule stakeholders involved in substation construction and pre-commissioning activities.
• Oversee and support high-level substation wiring work, typically involving #10 AWG and smaller conductors.
• Collaborate with relay technicians and other technical personnel to ensure proper installation and configuration of relay equipment and protection systems.
• Support relay testing, switchgear testing, and verification of protection and control functions prior to commissioning.
• Ensure features align with substation design and utility standards.
• Work onsite five days per week for approximately 10 hours per day, often at the same location for months.
• Travel to job sites across TX/OK panhandle and southeastern NM as required.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records related to pre-commissioning activities and schedules.
• Demonstrate strong technical aptitude with potential to transition into commissioning agent roles.

Skills

Substation protection

Reading schematics

Relay technician experience

SCADA knowledge

High voltage knowledge

Travel readiness

Education

Electrical engineering degree

Tools

Omicron test sets

SCADA systems

Relay equipment

Switchgear

Job description

Job Title: Pre-Commissioning Engineer

Job Description

The Pre-Commissioning Engineer oversees substation protection and controls projects from the Amarillo office, working in both greenfield and brownfield substations at various stages of energization. This role focuses on coordinating construction-phase activities, interpreting technical documentation, and supporting the successful implementation of protection and control systems across substations in the Texas / Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico.

Responsibilities

• Manage substation protection and controls projects throughout the construction and pre-commissioning phases.
• Work in greenfield and brownfield substations at different stages of energization, ensuring readiness for commissioning.
• Interpret and work from schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical drawings related to substation protection and control systems.
• Coordinate and schedule various stakeholders involved in substation construction and pre-commissioning activities.
• Oversee and support high-level substation wiring work, typically involving #10 AWG and smaller conductors.
• Collaborate with relay technicians and other technical personnel to ensure proper installation and configuration of relay equipment and protection systems.
• Support relay testing, switchgear testing, and verification of protection and control functions prior to commissioning.
• Ensure that protection and control systems are implemented in alignment with substation design and electric utility standards.
• Work onsite five days per week for approximately 10 hours per day, often at the same location for several months at a time.
• Travel to job sites located throughout the Texas / Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico as required.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records related to pre-commissioning activities, test results, and project schedules.
• Demonstrate strong technical aptitude with the potential to transition into more advanced technical roles such as a commissioning agent based on performance.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of field experience in substation protection and controls.
• Strong ability to read and interpret schematics, wiring diagrams, and substation design documentation.
• Hands-on experience with substation wiring, typically involving #10 AWG and smaller conductors.
• Practical experience as a relay technician or in roles involving relay equipment and protection systems.
• Solid understanding of protection and control principles for high voltage substations.
• Experience with relay testing, switchgear, and high voltage transmission equipment.
• Familiarity with substation design and electric utility transmission environments.
• Knowledge of SCADA systems and their integration with substation protection and control.
• Ability to work onsite for extended periods, five days per week and 10 hours per day.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the Texas / Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Electrical engineering or technical degrees may be considered as part of the required years of experience.
• Experience in electric utility, energy, and transmission environments.
• Experience in substation design and implementation of protection and control schemes.
• Familiarity with commissioning tools and methodologies, including equipment such as Omicron test sets.
• Experience working with high voltage equipment, relay equipment, and switchgear in utility or energy settings.
• Knowledge of industry practices related to substation commissioning and pre-commissioning.
• Potential to grow into more technical and higher-paying roles such as a commissioning agent based on performance.
• Relocation support or living outside the preferred service area may be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

Work Environment

This role is based out of the Amarillo office and requires consistent onsite work at substations located across the Texas / Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico. The work environment is field-oriented, with time spent in high voltage substation facilities during construction and pre-commissioning phases. Typical schedules involve working five days per week for approximately 10 hours per day, often at the same job site for several months at a time. The position involves collaboration with relay technicians, protection and control specialists, and other utility and energy professionals, using tools and equipment related to relay testing, switchgear, SCADA, and high voltage transmission systems. The environment emphasizes safety, technical precision, and teamwork in outdoor and industrial settings.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Amarillo, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $65.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Amarillo, TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.