Senior Electrical Engineer - Protection Applications

SolveNow Inc.; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SolveNow Inc. is seeking an experienced Electrical Engineer to lead complex power systems studies and protection coordination for high-voltage projects in the Minneapolis area.

The position collaborates with project teams to develop design bases and native relay files, while guiding engineering staff and supporting client communications. The role emphasizes senior-level expertise in substations, relay coordination, and standards like FERC/NERC, with opportunities to contribute to business

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field plus seven years of experience in electrical systems studies.
• Master's degree with six years of related experience can substitute for the bachelor's plus seven years requirement.

Responsibilities

• Execute complex assignments using advanced electrical engineering techniques to develop new or improved processes, equipment, or methods.
• Develop and evaluate plans for major projects; assess feasibility when data is insufficient or testing is advisable.
• Coordinate departmental or divisional project studies, reports, or design assignments.
• Perform power system studies and system protection settings coordination up to 500-kV.
• Develop design basis documentation for protective settings and generate relay configuration files.
• Provide engineering guidance, conduct design reviews, and support quality control.
• Act as primary internal and external client contact.
• Assist project manager in scope of work and conceptual design development.
• Train and mentor lower-level engineers.
• Support business development and marketing initiatives.

Skills

Power systems studies

Protection design

Relay coordination

Substation design

Engineering leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Master's degree with 6+ years experience as substitute

Tools

ASPEN OneLiner

Electrocon CAPE

SEL AcSELerator

GE Enervista

Job description

Position Assignments

• Executes complex assignments requiring the use of advanced electrical engineering techniques, resulting in the development of new or improved processes, equipment, and/or technological methods.
• Develop and evaluate plans for major projects. Assess feasibility or soundness of proposed applications when data is insufficient or testing is advisable.
• Coordinate departmental or divisional project studies, reports, or project design assignments.
• Responsible for performing power system studies and system protection settings coordination on various projects (up to 500-kV voltage level).
• Develop design basis documentation for protective settings and generate native relay configuration files.
• Provide technical guidance to the project team, conduct design reviews, and support quality control.
• Act as primary contact for both internal and external client-side communication.
• Assist project manager to develop scope of work and conceptual design for the projects.
• Train, guide, and mentor lower level engineers.
• Support business development and marketing initiatives.

Qualifications

Requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a directly related field plus seven (7) years of experience in electrical systems studies in the electric utility or industrial power distribution industry.

• Will accept a master's degree plus six (6) years of related experience in lieu of bachelor's degree plus seven (7) years of related experience.

Preferred Experience/Skills

• A Professional Engineer licensure is strongly preferred
• Protection and Control system design for substation applications and automation (69kV – 500kV), one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, control panel layouts, bill of materials, and protection specifications
• Application of industry standards for the protection of system equipment, including power busses, power transformers, HV/MV circuit breakers, capacitor banks, reactors, transmission lines, and distribution feeders
• Power systems modeling and protective relay coordination analysis using ASPEN OneLiner or Electrocon CAPE software
• Designing calculations, including short circuit calculation, current transformer performance and ratio selection, over-current element coordination, zone-distance element selection and coordination, and relay loadability calculation
• Developing native relay setting files using SEL's AcSELerator and GE's Enervista software programs
• Providing engineering support with construction and commissioning activities for substations
• Leading multiple engineering teams on engineering design and scope for multiple projects
• Knowledge of FERC and NERC requirements as they pertain to electric utility reliability requirements is a plus
• Knowledge of IEC61850 and its implementation is a plus