Senior Commissioning Engineer

Qualus; Kentucky; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Qualus is seeking a Senior Commissioning Engineer in Field Engineering to oversee testing and commissioning of protection and control equipment for substations. You will develop energization plans, review results, and ensure safe, reliable operation of capital projects.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years in electric utility P&C engineering, strong leadership, and the ability to manage cross-functional teams. PE preferred; on-site role with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical engineering.
• Minimum 8 years of electric utility P&C engineering and commissioning experience.
• PE licensure preferred; or 15+ years of related experience in lieu of PE.
• Expert knowledge of protection philosophies, relay schemes, fault analysis, and troubleshooting.
• Experience leading and overseeing substation P&C commissioning and testing.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and lead substation P&C commissioning activities for complex projects.
• Review designs, BOMs, submittals, work plans, and safety requirements for readiness.
• Develop commissioning plans, tests, checklists, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractors and commissioning personnel.
• Direct testing, startup, and verification for relays, control systems, and substations.
• Oversee installation, modification, and retirement of substation equipment.
• Conduct site visits to verify quality and witness energization.
• Lead coordination meetings with stakeholders to align objectives and outages.
• Ensure compliance with design, standards, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Protection philosophies

Relay schemes

Troubleshooting

Leadership

Quality oversight

Communication

Project coordination

Documentation

English proficiency

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree (Mechanical or Electrical)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Mobile device apps exposure

TheCloud / enterprise apps access

Job description

Position Overview

Power your Future with Qualus in our Field Engineering department as a Senior Commissioning Engineer. As a Senior Commissioning Engineer you will provide testing and commissioning oversight of protection and control capital substation installations to ensure safe and reliable operation. This includes the development of check-out guides, review and approval of test results, development of equipment energization plans to minimize system risk and final technical approval of equipment prior to it being released to transmission operations.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and lead substation Protection & Control (P&C) construction, testing, and commissioning activities for complex capital projects and programs.
• Review project designs, bills of material (BOMs), equipment submittals, work plans, commissioning documentation, and safety requirements to ensure project readiness and compliance with company standards.
• Develop commissioning plans, test procedures, checklists, and functional test documentation while defining required inspections, measurements, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractors, construction crews, and commissioning personnel to ensure quality, safety, and successful project execution.
• Direct and approve all testing, commissioning, startup, and verification activities for relays, control systems, AC/DC distribution systems, batteries, RTUs, DFRs, IEDs, communications systems, and associated substation equipment.
• Oversee installation, modification, integration, and retirement of substation equipment, including relay panels, control house systems, control and communications cabling, and other P&C infrastructure.
• Conduct site visits to evaluate existing and new installations, verify construction quality, witness testing and energization activities, and resolve technical issues.
• Lead coordination meetings with engineering, operations, maintenance, construction, and client stakeholders to align project objectives, schedules, outages, and commissioning activities.
• Verify compliance with design requirements, company standards, regulatory requirements, and commissioning specifications throughout all phases of project execution.
• Support operational readiness by reviewing startup and maintenance documentation, facilitating training, and assisting operations and maintenance personnel during system turnover and final acceptance.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Electrical engineering from an ABET university is preferred
• Minimum of 8 years of electric utility P&C engineering and commissioning experience.
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) preferred; candidates with 15+ years of directly related utility P&C engineering and commissioning experience may be considered in lieu of PE registration.
• Expert-level knowledge of protection philosophies, relay schemes, fault analysis, and advanced troubleshooting methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coordinating, and overseeing substation P&C commissioning and testing activities.
• Authority and technical expertise to review, approve, and accept commissioning work, ensuring adherence to company standards, regulatory requirements, and industry practices.
• Strong leadership and decision‑making skills with the ability to provide technical direction and quality oversight for commissioning teams.
• Proficient in computers, computer networks, and Android/iPhone app skills: Microsoft Office suite of software, mapping drive letters for server connections, obtaining, installing, and connecting handheld device apps to ’TheCloud’ or other locations as required
• Strong facilitation, team building, collaboration, organization and problem‑solving skills.
• Highly effective communicator with clear and concise writing and presentation skills.
• High level of attention to detail with ability to quality‑review work.
• Ability to forensically evaluate energy‑consuming systems and detect and evaluate deficiencies, quantify energy losses, and determine cost.
• Experience providing leadership to a diverse project team a plus.
• Valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Ability to read company manuals, reports, workplace rules, and procedures; speak with poise and confidence, using correct English.

Benefits & Compensation

• Qualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long‑Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.

The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.