Protection & Control Engineer

ECNS GLOBAL CONSULTANTS, PLLC; Cedar Rapids (IA); Remote; USD 65,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Competitive salary

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Paid time off

Training & development

Vision insurance

Wellness resources

Job summary

ECNS Global Consultants, PLLC is seeking a Protection & Control Engineer to design, test, and maintain protection and control systems for electrical power networks. You will work on relay protection, coordination studies, fault analysis, and power system studies to improve reliability and safety.

The role supports commissioning, FAT/SAT, outage responses, and field implementation while applying IEEE, ANSI, NERC, and other standards. Remote-friendly with travel up to 30%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering from ABET-accredited program.
• FE certification is preferred for advancement.
• Experience with protection and control systems is required.

Responsibilities

• Perform and support protection and control engineering activities, including relay settings, coordination studies, fault analysis, and power system studies.
• Develop, review, and maintain engineering calculations, drawings, reports, relay settings files, and technical documentation.
• Design, configure, test, and troubleshoot protective relays, SCADA systems, RTUs, communications networks, and automation systems.
• Support or lead commissioning, startup, FAT, SAT, outage support, and field implementation activities.
• Apply IEEE, ANSI, NERC, and related industry standards to projects.
• Support the design, operation, and maintenance of transmission, distribution, and substation protection systems.
• Perform relay event analysis and system investigations to ensure reliability.
• Coordinate with project teams, operations, contractors, vendors, and clients to deliver engineering solutions.
• Support or lead technical reviews, QA/QC activities, project planning, and deliverables.
• Protection & Control Engineer III: provide mentorship to junior engineers.

Skills

Relay protection

Power system studies

SCADA

Cooperation & teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering (ABET)

FE certification preferred

Job description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources

Job Title: Protection & Control Engineer I, II, III
Employment Type: Full-Time, Salary-Exempt (40 hours/week)
Location: AZ, MO, IA, TX, NV, OK, NE, TN
Travel: Remote with project travel between 5-30%
Department: Engineering
Reports To: V.P. of Engineering
Compensation: $65,000-185,000/year, Exempt supplemental pay for additional hours
About Us ECNS Global Consultants, PLLC is a specialized engineering and consulting firm serving the energy and utilities industry. The company provides electrical engineering, controls, cybersecurity, commissioning, testing, quality inspections, and construction management services, supporting projects from concept through completion. With a focus on safety, quality, compliance, and innovation, ECNS delivers reliable solutions for complex infrastructure projects.
Position Summary As a Protection & Control Engineer, you will design, implement, test, and maintain protection and control systems that ensure the safe and reliable operation of electrical power systems. Using expertise in relay protection, coordination, and power system analysis, you will develop solutions that improve system reliability, enhance performance, and protect critical power infrastructure.
Key Responsibilities

• Perform and support protection and control engineering activities, including relay settings, coordination studies, fault analysis, and power system studies.
• Develop, review, and maintain engineering calculations, drawings, reports, relay settings files, and technical documentation.
• Design, configure, test, and troubleshoot protective relays, SCADA systems, RTUs, communications networks, and automation systems.
• Support or lead commissioning, startup, FAT, SAT, outage support, and field implementation activities.
• Apply industry and utility standards, including IEEE, ANSI, NERC, and applicable protection and control practices.
• Support the design, operation, and maintenance of transmission, distribution, and substation protection systems.
• Perform relay event analysis, system investigations, and technical problem-solving to ensure reliable system performance.
• Coordinate with project teams, operations, contractors, vendors, and clients to deliver engineering solutions and project objectives.
• Support or lead technical reviews, QA/QC activities, project planning, and engineering deliverables.
• Protection & Control Engineer III: Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and technicians, commensurate with experience level.

Qualifications Education

• Bachelor's Degree (B.S.) or Master's Degree (M.S.) in electrical engineering from a college/university accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET)

Experience Protection & Control Engineer I

• 1–3 years of related experience preferred.

Protection & Control Engineer II

• 3+ years of engineering experience.
• FE certification preferred.

Protection & Control Engineer III

• 7+ years of engineering experience.
• PE license preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Experience with protection and control systems for utility or industrial power systems.
• Knowledge of IEEE, IEC, ANSI, NESC, and related industry standards.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel as needed.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred but not required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit, stand, or walk for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to bend, crouch, climb, and work at various heights.
• Required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed.
• 5-30% annual travel for team meetings and business needs.
• Ability to work effectively in a fully remote environment.

Benefits As a full-time employee, you are eligible to participate in ECNS’s benefits program. Subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements.

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee wellness programs

Core Values Mission and Vision: ECNS aims to deliver engineering excellence and innovate for a sustainable future using advanced technologies and eco-friendly practices.
Integrity and Trust: Integrity fosters transparency and ethical standards, building trust among clients and team members in all dealings.
Collaboration Across Teams: Effective collaboration across diverse teams ensures projects benefit from collective expertise and shared goals.
Innovation for Future Readiness: Innovation drives the development of future-ready solutions and keeps ECNS ahead of industry trends
Equal Opportunity Employer: We do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, marital/familial status, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or other protected class.
Flexible work from home options available.