Senior Automation Engineer, Protection & Controls

ROI Agency; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two medical plan options

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

ROI Agency is seeking a seasoned electrical controls engineer to lead the design, configuration, and commissioning of plant control and automation systems for substation, BESS, and solar projects in the Houston area.

You will own projects from design through commissioning, mentor engineers, and help build standards and documentation to scale the team while maintaining safety and quality.

Travel up to 20% may be required to support field activities and site tests.

Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Active PE license.
• 8+ years in substation, plant, or industrial automation.
• Hands-on experience with SEL RTACs and SEL protective relays.
• Working knowledge of IEC 61131-3 programming, SCADA protocols (DNP3, Modbus), and HMI development.
• Field commissioning experience; travel ~20%.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and commission SEL RTAC-based control systems.
• Develop PPC logic for BESS and solar per ERCOT interconnection requirements.
• Develop SCADA/HMI points lists, architectures, and screens.
• Lead site acceptance testing and field commissioning; troubleshoot.
• Own project scope, schedule, and budget; ensure safety and quality.
• Review automation deliverables for quality before customer release.
• Mentor engineers and develop standard templates and procedures.
• Support proposals with scope review and effort estimates.

Skills

Substation automation

HMI development

SCADA protocols

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

PE license

Tools

SEL RTACs

ACSELERATOR tools

DNP3

Modbus

IEC 61131-3 programming

Job description

About the Company

Our client is a fully integrated electrical power system services firm delivering end‑to‑end solutions across utility, renewable energy, battery storage, industrial, petrochemical, and other critical infrastructure markets. Based in Houston, Texas, the company leverages deep subject‑matter expertise and an engineering‑led approach to designing, installing, testing, and maintaining medium‑and‑high‑voltage electrical infrastructure for clients locally, nationally, and internationally.

Position Overview

Lead the design, configuration, and commissioning of plant control and automation systems for substation, BESS, and solar projects. You will be a technical authority within the Protection & Controls team, owning projects from design through commissioning, mentoring engineers, and helping build the standards and documentation that let the team scale.

Responsibilities

• Design, program, and commission SEL RTAC-based control and communication systems, including logic, data mapping, and relay integration.
• Develop and commission power plant controller (PPC) logic for BESS and solar plants to meet utility and ERCOT interconnection requirements.
• Develop SCADA and HMI points lists, communication architectures, and screens using DNP3, Modbus, and IEC 61850.
• Lead site acceptance testing and field commissioning, including troubleshooting and punch‑list close‑out.
• Own project scope, schedule, and budget for assigned automation work, with a high standard of quality and safety.
• Review automation deliverables (drawings, I/O lists, configurations, test procedures) for quality before they go to the customer.
• Mentor and cross‑train engineers so automation work is shared across the team.
• Develop standard templates and procedures for automation work.
• Support proposals with scope review and effort estimates.

Required Qualifications

• BS in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 8+ years of experience in substation, plant, or industrial automation; substation experience required.
• Hands‑on experience with SEL RTACs and SEL protective relays, including ACSELERATOR tools.
• Working knowledge of IEC 61131‑3 programming, SCADA protocols (DNP3, Modbus), and HMI development.
• Field commissioning experience; willingness to travel approximately 20%.
• Strong written communication and disciplined documentation habits.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with PPC systems for BESS or solar plants and with ERCOT or utility interconnection testing.
• Experience with IEC 61850 and with IT/OT network design and troubleshooting.
• Brownfield retrofit and legacy equipment integration experience.
• Experience with other platforms (GE, ABB, Schneider).

Benefits

Our client offers a comprehensive Total Rewards package including:

• Two medical plan options
• Dental and vision coverage
• Company‑paid short‑term and long‑term disability
• Company‑paid basic life insurance for employees and dependents
• 401(k) with company match
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• A supportive, high‑performance work environment where employees feel valued and empowered
• BS in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 8+ years of experience in substation, plant, or industrial automation; substation experience required.
• Hands‑on experience with SEL RTACs and SEL protective relays, including ACSELERATOR tools.
• Working knowledge of IEC 61131‑3 programming, SCADA protocols (DNP3, Modbus), and HMI development.
• Field commissioning experience; willingness to travel approximately 20%.
• Strong written communication and disciplined documentation habits.