Senior Electrical Engineer - Protection Applications (Minneapolis)

Burns & McDonnell; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Power Systems Protection Engineer in Minneapolis to lead and execute projects that enhance resiliency and reliability of the electric grid. You will perform complex electrical engineering studies, develop design basis documentation, and generate native relay configuration files for protection systems up to 500 kV.

You will mentor junior engineers, coordinate with clients and internal teams, and support business development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field required.
• Master's degree accepted in lieu of bachelor’s plus seven years experience.
• Professional Engineer licensure strongly preferred.
• Experience with protection design for substations (69kV–500kV) and relay coordination.

Responsibilities

• Lead or execute power system studies and protection settings coordination for projects up to 500 kV.
• Develop design basis documentation and native relay configuration files.
• Provide technical guidance and lead design reviews for projects.
• Serve as primary client contact and mentor junior engineers.
• Support business development and marketing initiatives.

Skills

Power systems protection

Protection coordination

Relay settings

Project leadership

Client communication

Substation design

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Master's degree in related field (in lieu of Bachelors)

Tools

SEL AcSELerator

GE Enervista

ASPEN OneLiner

Electrocon CAPE

Job description

Responsible for leading or executing power system protection and control engineering projects. Projects range in size, complexity, and voltage class from small distribution equipment upgrades to large transmission projects. This position can influence the future of the resiliency, reliability and economic operation of the electric grid. Opportunities to advance into leadership/management roles are available.

Position may include following 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.

Required 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