Protection & Controls Design Engineer

Keystone Power Inc.; Indiana; On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Keystone Power Inc. is seeking an experienced Protection & Controls Design Engineer for high‑voltage substation projects (12 kV–500 kV).

This role is not entry‑level and requires independent execution of complex P&C design packages and QA reviews, with regular collaboration with utility clients across design, construction, and commissioning phases. The candidate should understand protection settings at a high level (to inform design) and be willing to travel to project sites as needed, typically

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from ABET-accredited program (Master's may substitute for one year of experience).
• 7+ years of substation protection & controls design experience (12 kV–500 kV).
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required, or in active pursuit with ability to obtain within 12 months.
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex P&C designs with minimal supervision.
• Strong working knowledge of NERC PRC standards, IEEE/ANSI standards, and IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel to project and client sites (approximately 10–25%).

Responsibilities

• Perform protection & controls design from conceptual phase through detailed design, construction, and commissioning.
• Produce P&C deliverables: relay/protection one-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, and BOMs.
• Perform supporting calculations: voltage drop, CT burden, grounding, and load studies.
• Conduct quality reviews of P&C design packages.
• Support development of testing and commissioning plans.
• Provide field support during installation, testing, and energization.
• Coordinate with SCADA, substation civil/structural disciplines.
• Ensure compliance with NESC, NERC PRC standards and client standards.
• Assist development of project scopes, conceptual designs, and cost estimates.
• Apply protection concepts to buses, transformers, breakers, cables, and substations.
• Collaborate with settings engineers as needed.

Skills

Substation P&C design

Electrical engineering

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Independent execution

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

PE license or active pursuit

Tools

ASPEN OneLiner

CAPE

ETAP

SKM

CYME

Job description

Keystone Power Inc is an electric transmission and distribution engineering, project management, and construction management company headquartered in Martinsville, Indiana. Founded in 2025, Keystone Power partners with utility clients to deliver engineering design and oversight, project management, and construction management across substation and T&D projects.

Our team brings deep utility industry experience — including leaders with decades of substation, protection & controls, and SCADA expertise — and a hands‑on, partner‑focused approach to delivering reliable power infrastructure.

Position Summary

Keystone Power Inc is seeking a Protection & Controls Design Engineer for high‑voltage substation projects ranging from 12 kV through 500 kV. This is an experienced, highly technical role — not an entry‑level position. The successful candidate will independently execute complex P&C design packages, perform quality reviews of design deliverables, and collaborate directly with utility clients through design, construction, and commissioning.

Note: this role focuses on P&C design and does not include protection settings development. A working understanding of protection settings and coordination principles is needed to inform the design, with settings work handled by others.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform protection & controls design from conceptual/scope phase through detailed design, construction, and commissioning
• Produce P&C deliverables: relay/protection one‑lines, three‑line AC schematics, DC elementary and protection schematics, control building and panel arrangements, wiring diagrams, cable/conduit schedules, and bills of material
• Perform supporting calculations: voltage drop, CT burden and saturation, grounding, AC/DC load studies
• Perform quality reviews of P&C design packages
• Support development of testing and commissioning plans
• Provide field support during installation, testing, and energization
• Coordinate with SCADA, substation physical, telecom, and civil/structural disciplines
• Ensure compliance with NESC, NERC PRC standards (including PRC‑006, PRC‑023, PRC‑025, PRC‑027), and client/utility‑specific standards
• Support development of project scopes, conceptual designs, and engineering cost estimates
• Apply a working understanding of protection settings and coordination principles (short‑circuit studies, CT performance and ratio selection, relay coordination concepts) to inform P&C designs; coordinate with settings engineers as needed
• Apply protection concepts for power buses, transformers/autotransformers, HV/MV breakers, capacitor banks, reactors, transmission lines, distribution feeders, and renewable collector substations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited program (Master's degree may substitute for one year of experience)
• 7+ years of substation protection & controls design experience (12 kV–500 kV systems)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license required, or in active pursuit with ability to obtain within 12 months
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex P&C designs with minimal supervision
• Strong working knowledge of NERC PRC standards, IEEE/ANSI standards, and IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Willingness to travel to project and client sites (approximately 10–25%)

Preferred Qualifications

• Utility consulting experience with multiple utility clients
• Field testing and commissioning experience (relay testing, factory acceptance testing)
• Familiarity with DNP3, Modbus, and SEL communications protocols
• Experience developing design standards and application guides
• Experience with ASPEN OneLiner, CAPE, ETAP, SKM, or CYME