Protection Engineer - Morrisville/Raleigh, NC

Delta Electronics Americas; Morrisville (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Delta Electronics Americas is seeking a Protection Engineer to design, analyze, and validate protection systems for microgrids and SST-based power systems. You’ll ensure safe operation under normal and faulted conditions and coordinate with simulation, HIL, controls, and system design teams.

Responsibilities include protection philosophy development, circuit breaker sizing, and relay coordination, with collaboration across utility interfaces and downstream protection.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in power system protection engineering
• Experience with protection coordination and fault analysis
• Familiarity with microgrid or distribution-level power systems
• Ability to interpret one-line diagrams and develop protection schemes

Responsibilities

• Design protection schemes for microgrid and SST-based architectures
• Define protection philosophy for grid-connected and islanded operation
• Size and specify circuit breakers and protection devices
• Perform protection coordination studies and describe relay settings
• Conduct fault analysis and support HIL/testing and validation

Skills

Protection principles

Breaker sizing

Coordination methodologies

Microgrid systems

Relay interfaces

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Power Systems

Tools

ETAP

SKM

PSCAD

MATLAB/Simulink

RTDS

Job description

Delta, founded in 1971, is a global leader in switching power supplies and thermal management products with a thriving portfolio of smart energy-saving systems and solutions in the fields of industrial automation, building automation, telecom power, data center infrastructure, EV charging, renewable energy, energy storage and display, to nurture the development of smart manufacturing and sustainable cities. As a world-class corporate citizen guided by its mission statement, “To provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow,” Delta leverages its core competence in high-efficiency power electronics and its ESG-embedded business model to address key environmental issues, such as climate change. Delta serves customers through its sales offices, R&D centers and manufacturing facilities spread over close to 200 locations across five continents. Delta has 158 sales offices, 72 R&D centers and 48 manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Throughout its history, Delta has received various global awards and recognition for its business achievements, innovative technologies and dedication to ESG. Since 2011, Delta has been listed on the DJSI World Index of Dow Jones Sustainability™ Indices for 11 consecutive years. In 2021, Delta was also recognized by CDP with leadership level ratings for its substantial contribution to climate change and water security issues and named Supplier Engagement Leader for its continuous development of a sustainable value chain.

About The Role

The Protection Engineer is responsible for the design, analysis, and validation of protection systems for microgrids and Solid‑State Transformer (SST)‑based power systems. This role ensures safe and reliable operation of the system under both normal and faulted conditions through proper protection scheme design, circuit breaker selection and control, and coordination studies.

The Protection Engineer works closely with simulation, HIL, controls, and system design teams to develop protection strategies that align with system architecture, grid requirements, and operational constraints.

At Delta, we’re leading the energy transition with innovative solutions in solar inverters, energy storage systems, and EV charging infrastructure. Our technologies are helping utilities, businesses, and communities decarbonize and build resilient, intelligent energy ecosystems. Join us in creating a cleaner, smarter energy future.

Key Responsibilities

Protection System Design

• Design and developprotection schemesfor microgrid systems and SST‑based architectures
• Define protection philosophy for:
• Grid‑connected and islanded operation
• Mode transitions and reconnection
• Abnormal and fault conditions
• Select and specify protection elements including:
• Overcurrent, differential, distance, and voltage/frequency protections
• Inverter‑based protection strategies for limited fault current systems

Circuit Breaker Sizing & Control

• Performcircuit breaker sizing and specificationbased on:
• Fault current levels (including inverter‑limited contributions)
• Voltage class, duty cycle, and interrupting ratings
• System topology and grounding scheme
• Define breaker control requirements including:
• Trip logic and coordination with protection relays
• Reclosing and sequencing logic (where applicable)
• Integration with system controls and microgrid controllers
• Ensure proper selection of switching devices for both AC and DC (if applicable)

Protection Coordination Studies

• Performprotection coordination and selectivity studiesacross the system.
• Analyze and coordinate:
• Time‑current characteristics (TCC curves)
• Relay settings and grading margins
• Breaker trip timing and sequencing
• Ensure coordination between:
• Utility interfaces
• SST protection
• Downstream feeders and loads
• DERs (where applicable)
• Validate coordination under bothgrid‑connected and islanded conditions

Fault Analysis & System Studies

• Performfault studiesfor:
• Symmetrical and unsymmetrical faults
• Low‑fault‑current inverter‑dominated systems
• Analyze system response including:
• Fault current magnitude and duration
• Protection operation and clearing times
• Impact on system stability and control performance
• Support bothoffline simulation and HIL validationof protection behavior.

Collaboration with Simulation & HIL Teams

• Work with simulation engineers to:
• Model protection behavior in MATLAB/Simulink and EMT tools
• Work with HIL engineers to:
• Validate protection schemes inRTDS environments
• Test relay behavior and breaker operation under realistic fault scenarios
• Support integration between protection systems and control/firmware implementation

Documentation & Reporting

• Develop and maintain:
• Protection philosophy documents
• Coordination studies and reports
• Device settings and configuration files
• Clearly communicate protection design decisions, assumptions, and risks

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree inElectrical Engineering, Power Systems, or related field
• 5+ years of experience inpower system protection engineering
• Strong understanding of:
• Protection principles (overcurrent, differential, distance, etc.)
• Circuit breaker selection and operation
• Protection coordination methodologies
• Experience performingcoordination studies and fault analysis
• Familiarity withmicrogrid or distribution‑level power systems
• Ability to interpret system one‑line diagrams and develop protection schemes

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree inElectrical Engineering or Power Systems
• Experience with:
• Microgrids and inverter‑dominated systems
• SSTs or power‑electronic‑based distribution systems
• Familiarity with:
• ETAP, SKM, PSCAD, or similar protection / fault analysis tools
• MATLAB/Simulink for dynamic studies
• RTDS or HIL environments for protection validation
• Experience working with:
• Utility protection teams or interconnection processes
• Protection relays (SEL, GE, Siemens, ABB, etc.)
• Understanding of:
• Low fault current challenges in inverter‑based resources
• Coordination in islanded vs grid‑tied systems

Benefit at Delta Electronics Americas

Life at Delta

EEO Statement

Delta Electronics Americas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Delta Electronics America is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.