Protection & Controls Technician

Tallgrass; Cheyenne (WY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance options

401(k) with matching

Paid time off

Job summary

Tallgrass Cheyenne Energy Center seeks a Protection & Controls Technician to serve as a technical liaison for protection, controls, and substation maintenance. The role provides field coordination, technical review, documentation support, and oversight to ensure safety and reliability, without hands-on maintenance.

You will interact with contractors, vendors, engineering resources, operations, and a supervisor to ensure compliant, high-quality work aligned with site standards and procedures.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Power Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 3 years supporting protection & controls, substation maintenance, or industrial power systems.
• Experience with protective relays, breakers, switchgear, CTs/VTs, control circuits.
• Knowledge of DCS/PLC interfaces, preferably Emerson systems.
• Familiarity with NERC PRC standards and maintenance documentation.
• Ability to read electrical prints and relay settings documentation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical point of contact between protection/controls contractors and Tallgrass supervision.
• Provide advisory support during testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and commissioning of protection/controls systems.
• Review contractor plans, test procedures, and field approaches for compliance with standards.
• Coordinate protection/controls work with substations, switchgear, relays, and related equipment.
• Monitor contractor activities and report risks, status, and deviations.

Skills

Protection & controls experience

Substation maintenance

Relays (SEL, GE, ABB)

DCS/PLC interfaces

Emerson systems

NERC PRC standards

Contractor coordination

Technical communication

Education

Associate degree in Electrical/Power Systems

Tools

OMICRON

Doble

Electrical test equipment

Job description

Job Description

The Protection & Controls Technician supports protection, controls, and substation-related maintenance activities at the Tallgrass Cheyenne Energy Center, an off-grid, large-scale AI-dedicated critical power generation campus planned to produce approximately 2.5 GW of initial capacity, with expansion capability up to 10 GW.

Job Description

The Protection & Controls Technician supports protection, controls, and substation-related maintenance activities at the Tallgrass Cheyenne Energy Center, an off-grid, large-scale AI-dedicated critical power generation campus planned to produce approximately 2.5 GW of initial capacity, with expansion capability up to 10 GW. This role serves as a technical liaison between Tallgrass supervision and third-party contractors performing protection and controls work. The position provides field coordination, technical review, documentation support, and advisory input to help ensure work is performed safely, reliably, and in accordance with site standards, applicable procedures, and compliance requirements. The role is also not intended to perform hands-on maintenance, testing, or repair work. Instead, the Protection & Controls Technician provides technical interface, work oversight support, and communication between contractors, vendors, engineering resources, operations, and the Tallgrass Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls Supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical point of contact between protection and controls contractors and the Tallgrass Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls Supervisor.
• Provide advisory support during contractor-performed testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and commissioning activities involving protection and controls systems.
• Review contractor work plans, test procedures, switching-related documentation, and field execution approaches for alignment with site expectations and applicable standards.
• Support coordination of protection and controls work associated with substations, switchgear, protective relays, control circuits, breaker systems, CTs, VTs, and related electrical equipment.
• Monitor contractor activities in the field and communicate status, risks, issues, and deviations to the Tallgrass supervisor.
• Assist in validating that contractor-performed work is documented accurately and that required test records, reports, and maintenance documentation are completed and submitted.
• Provide technical input related to protective relay systems, substation equipment, trip circuits, control wiring, lockout relays, and power plant electrical interfaces.
• Support review and coordination of relay settings, event records, fault data, and contractor-generated findings as directed by the Tallgrass supervisor.
• Act as an intermediate communication resource between Tallgrass, contractors, OEM representatives, engineering support, and automation providers.
• Support coordination of DCS, PLC, and protection/control interface activities with Emerson and other approved service providers.
• Assist with outage planning, contractor coordination, work package review, and execution tracking for protection, controls, and substation-related activities.
• Support safe energization, synchronization, and electrical switching activities by assisting with documentation, coordination, and communication.
• Assist with NERC PRC-related documentation, testing coordination, recordkeeping, and compliance support, as applicable.
• Identify field issues, documentation gaps, or execution concerns and elevate them to the appropriate Tallgrass supervisor or responsible authority.
• Participate in site safety programs and help reinforce compliance with Tallgrass safety expectations while contractors are performing work.

Role Boundaries

• Direct supervision of employees or contractors.
• Formal approval authority unless specifically delegated by Tallgrass management.
• Hands‑on maintenance, testing, repair, or calibration of electrical equipment.
• Performing contractor work on behalf of vendors or service providers.
• Taking ownership of engineering design decisions unless assigned through established Tallgrass processes.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Power Systems, or a related technical field; equivalent industry experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting protection and controls, substation maintenance, power generation electrical systems, or related industrial power systems.
• Demonstrated substation experience, including familiarity with protective relays, breakers, switchgear, CTs, VTs, control circuits, trip circuits, and station auxiliary systems.
• Working knowledge of protective relay systems, including equipment from manufacturers such as SEL, GE, ABB, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with relay testing processes and documentation requirements, including contractor‑performed testing using equipment such as OMICRON, Doble, or similar test sets.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical prints, one‑line diagrams, three‑line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, control logic, and relay settings documentation.
• Experience coordinating with contractors, OEMs, engineering support, and operations personnel in an industrial or power generation environment.
• Working knowledge of DCS and PLC interfaces, preferably including Emerson systems.
• Familiarity with NERC PRC standards, configuration management, and maintenance documentation practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly communicate technical issues to supervisors, contractors, and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Ability to identify risks, documentation discrepancies, and field execution concerns and upscale them appropriately.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in power generation, utility, industrial power, or large‑scale energy infrastructure environments.
• Prior experience supporting outage coordination, commissioning, energization, or contractor‑executed electrical maintenance work.
• Familiarity with combined‑cycle gas turbine facilities, simple‑cycle gas turbine facilities, or large industrial electrical distribution systems.
• Experience reviewing relay test reports, breaker timing reports, commissioning documentation, and maintenance records.

Working Conditions

• Industrial power generation environment requiring regular field presence.
• May require support during planned and unplanned outages, including nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Ability to respond to after‑hours callouts and support emergent operational needs.
• Ability to work around energized electrical equipment in accordance with site safety procedures and applicable electrical safety standards.
• Ability to work at heights, in confined spaces, and in areas requiring personal protective equipment.
• Regular use of PPE and participation in Tallgrass site safety programs.

About Us

Tallgrass was named one of the Top Workplaces USA and highlighted in Colorado’s Top Workplaces for the past seven consecutive years. Tallgrass is a leading energy infrastructure company focused on safely, reliably, and sustainably delivering the energy and services that power our nation and enable our quality of life. At Tallgrass, we value our teams and strive to create an environment where employees feel respected, and their contributions are valued. We aim to support employees’ physical, mental, and financial well‑being through a comprehensive Total Rewards Program.

• Industry competitive pay
• Health insurance package options that include Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
• Infertility Coverage
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) with up to a 6% match that vests immediately plus an employer discretionary contribution of up to 4%
• Wellness Programs and Mental Health Resources
• Employer‑paid life insurance, short‑term disability, and long‑term disability coverage
• Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• Vacation, sick days, paid caregiver leave, volunteer and bereavement paid time off
• Identity theft protection
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Company‑paid holidays and floating holidays
• Company vehicle (if applicable)
• Employee discounts; vehicles, tires, cellular plans, and more
• Networking and employee engagement events
• Personal development to grow your career with us based on your strengths and interests

Application Deadline:

Recruiting timelines vary by position; however, all Tallgrass positions accept applications for at least five business days from the posting date. This position is open and still accepting applications.

Compensation

Compensation ranges are provided in good faith based on what we anticipate when researching wages for this position at the state and national levels. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

Notice to External Search Firms

Tallgrass does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Tallgrass property; therefore, Tallgrass will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral. Approved vendors may be invited to refer talent for specific positions at Tallgrass’s request only. A fully executed agreement with Tallgrass must be in place and current in these cases.

EEO Statement:

Tallgrass complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) affirmative action laws and regulations. Tallgrass does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, or other status protected by law.