Principal Protection and Control Engineer

Mott MacDonald; Westwood (MA); Hybrid; USD 156,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Disability insurance

Paid holidays

PTO

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Mott MacDonald is seeking a passionate Principal Protection & Controls Engineer to join our team in Boston, New York, or New Jersey. You will design and implement protection and control systems for transmission and distribution projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams and clients.

With 10+ years in P&C engineering and PE licensure, you will guide junior engineers, review technical docs, and contribute to proposals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering; Master’s preferred.
• 10+ years of protection and control engineering experience including SCADA.
• Minimum 5 years with electrical utility switching stations/substations.
• Knowledge of protective relay schemes, fiber optics, metering, and AC/DC power distribution.
• Ability to interpret and develop complex control schematics and layouts.
• Familiarity with NERC and IEEE standards.
• Ability to mentor junior staff and foster technical growth.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

Responsibilities

• Design protection and control systems for transmission and distribution projects.
• Design and review drawings including one-line and three-line diagrams, AC/DC distribution, relay protection schematics, SCADA controls, and control house layouts.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including layout designers, system protection engineers, construction supervisors, and field personnel.
• Perform calculations for AC/DC load banks and battery sizing.
• Provide technical guidance and quality reviews for junior engineers and external contractors.
• Coordinate with vendors and review technical documentation for compliance and accuracy.
• Lead design teams on complex projects and engage in client discussions.
• Apply expertise in microprocessor relay design and high-voltage equipment controls (SCADA, GIS).
• Support proposal efforts through estimating and scheduling P&C work.

Skills

Protection & controls experience

SCADA systems

Protective relay schemes

NERC & IEEE standards

Mentor junior staff

Excellent communication

PE license

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

SCADA

Job description

At Mott MacDonald, we trust our brilliant people to do brilliant things in engineering, management, and development services, supporting multisector project work in over 150 countries. As one of the largest employee-owned companies in the world, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes through our network of 20,000+ talented consultants. With sustainability and innovation at the heart of all our sectors in North America, including, Buildings, Energy, Transportation, and Water.

We believe in empowering our people to excel, learn, and grow, offering diverse opportunities to contribute to career-defining work. Join us and be part of a collaborative environment where your ambitions are united with ours, and you can truly shape your story.

If you share that vision, even if you don't meet every requirement listed, we'd still love to hear from you. We value potential and diverse perspectives as much as experience. Let's explore how we can support your growth and help you take the next step in your career, while contributing to an exciting new chapter for Mott MacDonald in North America.

Mott MacDonald is looking for a passionate and experienced Principal Protection & Controls (P&C) Engineer to join our dynamic team in Boston, New York or New Jersey offices. This role offers a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on engineering work across a wide range of electrical utility projects. If you thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy applying your deep technical expertise to meaningful infrastructure projects, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do:

As a Principal P&C Engineer, you'll play a key role in designing and implementing protection and control systems for transmission and distribution projects. Your responsibilities will include:

• Designing P&C systems for switching stations and substations ranging from 4kV to 500kV.
• Creating and reviewing detailed engineering drawings including one-line and three-line diagrams, AC/DC distribution, relay protection schematics, SCADA controls, and control house layouts.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including layout designers, system protection engineers, construction supervisors, and field personnel.
• Performing calculations for AC/DC load banks and battery sizing.
• Providing technical guidance and quality reviews for junior engineers and external contractors.
• Coordinating with vendors and reviewing technical documentation to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Leading design teams on complex projects and engaging in technical discussions with clients.
• Applying your expertise in microprocessor relay design and high-voltage equipment controls, including SCADA and GIS systems.
• Supporting proposal efforts through estimating and scheduling P&C work.

What You Bring:

We're seeking candidates who are not only technically skilled but also enthusiastic about mentoring and collaboration. Ideal qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (Master's preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in protection and control engineering, including SCADA systems.
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience with electrical utility switching stations/substations and related equipment.
• Strong knowledge of protective relay schemes, fiber optic communication, metering, and AC/DC power distribution.
• Proficiency in interpreting and developing complex control schematics and electrical layout drawings.
• Familiarity with NERC and IEEE standards.
• Proven ability to mentor junior staff and foster technical growth.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required.

Benefits & Reward

At Mott MacDonald, our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, providing them with a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses. We provide a comprehensive benefit package that includes 401k, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term/long-term disability, paid holidays, PTO, parental leave, and company paid life insurance.

Individual pay is determined based on several factors such as work location, education, experience, and unique skills.

The expected salary for this position is $156,000 - $191,000.

Collaboration at Our Core

At Mott MacDonald, we believe great ideas happen when we're together. Our hybrid approach centers on an in-office culture, with most of your time spent collaborating face-to-face and a minimum of three days per week in the office. We balance flexibility with connection, so you and your manager can choose how to meet client, team, and personal commitments.

Equal opportunity is the law.

We seek to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they have the opportunity to contribute.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status or disability status.