Senior Commissioning Engineer

Qualus; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

Qualus is seeking a Senior Commissioning Engineer to provide testing and commissioning oversight for complex substation protection and control projects. You will develop check-out guides, review test results, and approve equipment prior to release to transmission operations.

Lead field teams, coordinate with engineering and client stakeholders, review designs and safety requirements, and ensure adherence to standards throughout project execution.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years in electric utility P&C engineering and commissioning.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Mechanical engineering; ABET-accredited preferred.
• PE license preferred; significant experience may substitute.

Responsibilities

• Plan, lead substation P&C construction, testing, and commissioning for complex projects.
• Review designs, BOMs, submittals, and safety requirements for readiness and compliance.
• Develop commissioning plans, test procedures, checklists, and acceptance criteria.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractors and commissioning personnel.
• Direct testing, startup, and verification of relays, control systems, and RTUs.
• Conduct site visits to verify installations and resolve issues.

Skills

P&C engineering

Commissioning

Electrical engineering

Project leadership

Test planning

Substation testing

Field oversight

Documentation

PLC/IED knowledge

Education

ABET-accredited degree in Electrical or Mechanical engineering

Professional Engineer license preferred

Tools

MS Office

AutoCAD

Relay testing equipment

SCADA

Job description

Power your Future with Qualus

In our Field Engineering department 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, creation of equipment energization plans to minimize system risk, and final technical approval of equipment prior to release 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.

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, including Microsoft Office suite, mapping drive letters for server connections, and obtaining, installing, and connecting handheld device apps to ‘The Cloud’ 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 is 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.

Company Overview

Qualus is a leading pure‑play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology‑enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 1,800 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

EEO

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.