Principal Engineer - Protection & Control

Avangrid; Orange (CT); On-site; USD 141,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

12% 401(k) match

Health, dental, vision insurance

Tuition reimbursement

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

Avangrid is seeking a Principal Engineer - Protection & Control in Orange, CT. The role focuses on researching industry best practices, developing Protection & Control standards, and evaluating new P&C technologies across transmission, substation, and distribution scopes.

The successful candidate will lead projects, mentor engineers, and contribute to training and standard-writing efforts within a dynamic team and enterprise environment.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in Protection & Control.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Broad P&C knowledge including wiring design, instrument transformers, coordination studies, digital logic, protection settings, automation, teleprotection.
• Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals: sequential components, per unit, harmonics, transformers, fault analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering projects and mentor junior engineers.
• Develop and maintain P&C engineering standards, relay setting templates, and engineering tools.
• Evaluate new vendors and technologies for P&C.
• Prepare and present engineering standards to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Engage with cross-functional teams and external contractors.

Skills

P&C engineering

Engineering leadership

Regulatory knowledge (FERC/NERC/NPCC)

Electrical fundamentals

Protection settings & automation

Education

Bachelors in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

SEL relays

GE relays

Siemens relays

Job description

Job Title: Principal Engineer - Protection & ControlReports to: Supervisor - Protection & ControlReports to Orange, CTWork Type: OfficeThe base salary for this position is dependent upon experience and location ranging from $ 141,120-176,400

What We Offer:Competitive benefits and growth opportunitiesGenerous performance-based bonuses12% 401(k) matchComprehensive health, dental, and vision insuranceTuition reimbursementProfessional development and clear career advancement pathwaysFor more information please visit: Benefits - Avangrid

Job SummaryThis role is responsible for researching industry best practices to create Protection and Control standards. Responsibilities also include development of new engineering processes and tools, evaluating new P&C technologies, and writes industry white papers. System scope includes transmission, substation, and distribution. Service companies include Central Maine Power, New York State Electric & Gas, Rochester Gas & Electric, and United Illuminating.

Key Responsibilities

• General responsibilities include assisting in the development of P&C engineering standards, relay setting file templates, and engineering tools.
• Conducts engineering analysis, researching industry papers and manuals.
• Make engineering decisions with significant impact to the company.
• The principal engineer is expected to lead engineering projects and facilitate meeting with other P&C engineers, other departments, contractors, and vendors.
• The principal engineer is expected to provide informal mentorship to junior engineers.
• The principal engineer is expected to develop and instruct P&C training courses.
• Authoring engineering standards and presenting to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Participate in the evaluation of new vendors and technologies.
• Engineers in the Philosophy and Standards group often are requested to work on special one-off projects.
• Past examples include overhauling arc flash calculation methods, evaluating the feasibility of distribution switching stations, evaluating new substation designs.
• Active projects include engineering AVANGRID's first IEC 61850 Process Bus Substation, evaluating Virtualized Protection Relays, expanding relaying laboratories (including use of an RTDS), conducting studies, updating engineering standards, creating internal engineering training courses, and writing conference papers.

Required Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in Protection & Control.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Understanding of P&C regulation such as FERC, NERC, NPCC.
• A broad range of P&C knowledge/experience including wiring design, instrument transformers specifications, coordination studies, digital logic, protection settings, automation, teleprotection.
• A strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals is required. This includes sequential components, per unit, harmonics, transformers, and fault analysis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering preferred.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license strongly preferred.
• Experience with SEL, GE, and Siemens protection relays.
• Experience or knowledge in the following areas is preferred: IEC 61850 (GOOSE Data Models, Sampled Values, MMS, PTP), networking, real time digital simulators (RTDS), virtualized protection relays, and centralized substation protection.

Company

THE UNITED ILLUMINATING COMPANY

Mobility InformationPlease note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.

At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at [e-mail].

Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.

Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee's management.

Job Posting End Date:December-4-2026