Project Engineer - Protection

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Pullman (WA); On-site; USD 88,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

Employee-owned company

Excellent benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. seeks a Project Engineer - Proposals to lead the technical evaluation and development of customer proposals for power system and automation projects.

You will review RFQ documents, develop work statements, preliminary designs, risk assessments, and schedules, collaborating with Contracts on commercial terms. The role requires 8+ years of experience, strong leadership, and ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with electric power systems or industrial automation.
• Demonstrated knowledge of electric power system protection, control, automation, and communications applications.
• Ability to lead project teams and manage multiple solutions simultaneously.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead in complex project conceptual and detailed design across multiple projects.
• Identify, prepare, and present successful proposals for SEL equipment and services.
• Review RFQs and specs to develop innovative, cost-effective solutions.
• Lead project teams and ensure Deliverables meet scope, schedule, budget, and safety requirements.
• Develop project work statements, risk assessments, cash flow forecasts, and preliminary schedules.

Skills

Proposal development

Technical leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Project Engineer - Proposals Position Summary SEL Engineering Services is seeking a Project Engineer - Proposals to lead the technical evaluation and development of customer proposals for complex power system and automation projects. In this role, you will review customer RFQ documents, evaluate bid/no-bid opportunities, develop project work statements, preliminary designs, responsibility matrices, risk assessments, cash flow projections, and preliminary project schedules. You will leverage a strong understanding of SEL's Engineering Services portfolio to develop comprehensive technical solutions and collaborate with Contracts to finalize commercial terms and conditions. This position requires a strategic, technically skilled professional who can effectively lead proposal development efforts, support customer engagement, and contribute to successful project execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and actively participate in complex project conceptual design, detailed design, execution, development, and support activities across multiple projects and focus areas.
• Identify, prepare, and present successful proposals for SEL equipment, services, and systems.
• Review customer RFQs and technical specifications to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions.
• Lead project teams in resolving customer concerns and fostering long-term customer satisfaction.
• Ensure project deliverables are completed within agreed scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety requirements.
• Develop project work statements, preliminary designs, responsibility matrices, risk assessments, cash flow forecasts, and preliminary schedules.
• Collaborate with Contracts and other cross-functional teams to finalize project terms and conditions.
• Mentor and develop professional staff and provide supervision when required.
• Model, teach, and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.
• Embrace SEL's philosophy: Understand. Create. Simplify.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant experience with electric power systems or industrial automation system practices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of electric power system protection and control, integration, automation, and communications applications.
• Demonstrated knowledge of electric power system design, studies, information and communication technology (ICT), and protective relay applications.
• Ability to work on multiple solutions simultaneously
• Proven ability to lead and supervise project teams.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 25%, depending on project and focus area requirements.
• Satisfactory background check results.
• Successful completion of required drug screening.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with an electrical utility, industrial plant, consulting engineering firm, or system integrator.
• Project management experience.
• Working knowledge of Vision or other project management tracking software.

Why Join SEL?

At SEL, you'll help solve complex technical challenges while working alongside industry experts committed to innovation, quality, and customer success. This role offers the opportunity to influence major projects from proposal development through execution, while supporting critical infrastructure around the world.

• Competitive pay.
• Superior benefits.
• Inspiring work.
• People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners.
• We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
• We’re 100% employee owned.
• Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
• We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer:
• 10 paid holidays
• annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days
• 9 paid sick days
• paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
• We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
• Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

We set starting pay based on job-related factors such as your experience, training, knowledge, and skills. We are looking to fill this position at the Power Engineer level, and we welcome applicants with a range of experience. Depending on your background, we may consider you for a different level, with compensation aligned accordingly.

Pay Range: $88,400 - $132,700 annually

Project Engineer I: $88,400 - $132,700

Project Engineer II: $96,000 - $144,000

Project Engineer III: $109,900 - $164,800

Communication with Applicants

We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at [e-mail]. SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.

SEL invents, designs, and builds digital products and systems that protect power grids around the world. This technology prevents blackouts and enables customers to improve power system reliability and safety at a reduced cost. A 100 percent employee-owned company headquartered in Pullman, Washington, SEL has manufactured products in the United States since 1984 and now serves customers worldwide. Our mission is simple: to make electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.