Senior Power Systems Engineer (Owner's Engineer)

Primary Talent Partners; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 81,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Primary Talent Partners has a new contract opening for a Senior Electrical Engineer with a large power and utilities client in Charlotte, NC. This is a 3-year contract with a potential for extension.

The role focuses on owner-side technical oversight of complex electrical power systems, including architecture, MV distribution, reliability, and startup activities. Strong experience with ETAP/SKM and vendor coordination is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Senior-level experience supporting electrical engineering design, review, construction, commissioning, or owner’s engineering activities for utility, industrial, power generation, or Client-related facilities.
• Strong understanding of power system architecture, including utility interconnection, substation design, medium-voltage switchgear, transformer sizing, one-line diagrams, and emergency power strategies.
• Experience reviewing power system studies such as load flow, short-circuit, motor starting, voltage drop, arc flash, protection coordination, and harmonic studies.
• Working knowledge of ETAP reports and/or SKM PowerTools.
• Demonstrated knowledge of medium-voltage equipment, protective relays, MV cable systems, and relay coordination philosophy.
• Familiarity with hazardous area electrical design.
• Strong knowledge of emergency power systems, UPS systems, battery systems, standby generation, black-start philosophy, and critical load segregation.
• Knowledge of electrical construction and commissioning practices, including testing and startup activities for major electrical equipment.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate utility interconnection designs, substation design, medium-voltage switchgear, 13.8 KV and 4.16 KV systems, 480 V MCCs, transformer sizing, and power distribution redundancy.
• Review electrical power system studies, including load flow, short-circuit, motor starting, voltage drop, arc flash, protection coordination, and harmonic studies.
• Provide technical review of medium-voltage equipment, including switchgear, circuit breakers, relays, and MV cable systems.
• Evaluate relay settings and coordination philosophy developed by vendors or engineering partners.
• Support large motor application reviews, including VFDs, soft starts, motor protection, and torsional considerations.
• Review hazardous area electrical design requirements and equipment listings for certifications.
• Provide technical oversight for emergency power systems, including generators, UPS, battery systems, ESD, Fire and gas reliability.
• Support reliability engineering activities, including N-1 analysis, RBDs, and maintenance strategy development.
• Coordinate electrical scope and interfaces across instrumentation, process, mechanical, and utility teams.

Skills

Power system architecture

Interconnection design

One-line diagrams

Emergency power strategies

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ETAP reports

SKM PowerTools

Job description

Primary Talent Partners has a new contract opening for a Senior Electrical Engineer with a large power and utilities client in Charlotte, NC. This is a 3-year contract with a potential for extension.

The role focuses on owner-side technical oversight of complex electrical power systems, including architecture, MV distribution, reliability, and startup activities. Strong experience with ETAP/SKM and vendor coordination is required.