Senior Protection & Controls Engineer

Electric Power Engineers; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and wellness bene

PTO and holidays

MyShare Employee Ownership Program

401K with company match

Work with industry leaders

Job summary

Electric Power Engineers, LLC seeks a Senior Protection & Controls Engineer to provide power systems expertise in protection design and coordination analyses for transmission-connected systems. You will develop protection philosophies, relay settings, and coordination studies for MV/HV assets across data centers, substations, generation and BESS projects.

You will lead P&C engineering deliverables, mentor staff, and help standardize practices while leveraging AI tools to improve quality

Qualifications

• Licensed Professional Engineer required.
• 10+ years of protection and control engineering experience.
• Strong substation P&C design and protective-relaying background for MV/HV systems.
• Experience with industry-standard protection tools and relay software.

Responsibilities

• Develop/review P&C engineering packages for substations, generation facilities and data centers.
• Develop protection philosophies and schemes for transformers, buses, feeders and lines.
• Develop protective relay settings and coordination including overcurrent, distance and differential protection.
• Perform short-circuit, equipment-duty and protection coordination studies.
• Coordinate P&C design with multi-disciplinary teams and review vendor drawings.
• Support construction, testing, commissioning and energization, including QA/QC reviews.

Skills

Substation protection design

Protective relay coordination

Project coordination

Client-facing communication

Education

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

ASPEN

CAPE

ETAP

Powerbase

SEL Quickset

GE Enervista

Job description

Overview

We are designing the grid of the future!

The Senior Protection & Controls Engineer will provide power systems engineering expertise in protection design and coordination analyses on the transmission connected systems. This will include designing protection system including overcurrent, distance, differential, communication-aided protection, wide area protection coordination. The Transmission System Protection Engineer will also focus on system protection schemes and studies involving generation interconnection protection and NERC PRC compliance ensuring adequate safety and reliability of the bulk electric system.

The successful candidate for this position has a strong background in power systems which includes experience with system protection software and tools, conventional and non-conventional generator protective and ride-through functions, and industry standards and can utilize that background effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Howyou can make an impact:

• Develop/review P&C engineering and design packages for EPC and private-client projects, including substations, data centers, generation, BESS and other large-load facilities, including one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, relay logic, wiring diagrams, interconnection diagrams and panel drawings.
• Develop and review protection philosophies and schemes for transformers, buses, feeders, transmission lines, capacitor/reactor banks, generators and other electrical equipment.
• Develop and review protective relay settings and coordination, including overcurrent, differential, distance, breaker-failure and communications assisted protection.
• Perform and review short-circuit, equipment-duty and protection coordination studies required to support the design.
• Coordinate P&C design with substation physical, electrical studies, SCADA/communications, metering, civil/structural and other engineering disciplines.
• Review vendor drawings and equipment documentation for relays, control panels, switchgear, transformers and other protection-related equipment.
• Support projects through construction, testing, commissioning and energization, including resolution of field issues and review of testing documentation.
• Provide technical QA/QC and senior-level review of P&C engineering deliverables.
• Support the development of P&C engineering standards, design practices, templates and calculation methodologies to support consistent project execution.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring and supervision to P&C engineers and designers and help build the department's P&C capability.
• Identify opportunities to improve engineering quality and efficiency through standardization, automation and responsible use of AI tools.

Qualifications

Bring your passion, here's what’s needed:

• Licensed Professional Engineer required.
• 10+ years of experience in protection and control engineering, preferably including consulting, EPC or detailed design environments.
• Strong technical background in substation P&C design and protective relaying for MV and HV systems.
• Experience with industry-standard protection tools and relay software such as ASPEN, CAPE, ETAP, Powerbase, SEL Quickset, and GE Enervista.
• Experience developing and reviewing complete P&C design packages from conceptual design through IFC.
• Strong knowledge of protective relay applications, settings and coordination.
• Experience coordinating P&C design across multidisciplinary EPC projects.
• Experience with data centers, BESS, generation or other large-load/industrial facilities is strongly preferred.
• Experience with inverter-based power plants is strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting construction, testing and commissioning is preferred.
• Strong client-facing communication, technical leadership and teamwork skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to changing priorities.
• Familiarity with applicable IEEE, ANSI, NERC and utility P&C requirements.
• Experience leveraging AI and automation tools responsibly to improve quality, productivity and innovation

Lead the Change!

Be a part of an innovative team shaping the grid of the future through advanced energy intelligence. For more than half a century, Electric Power Engineers (EPE) has partnered with power and energy clients across the globe, providing consulting expertise and energy intelligence software solutions for complex engineering and grid modeling challenges. As leaders in the renewables space, we are focused on building a modern, secure, and resilient grid. Join us in making an impact on the communities we serve and the environment in which we live. Together we can transform the future of energy.

How we support you:

• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits including medical, dental, and vision with 100% premium coverage foryou
• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• MyShare Employee Ownership Program
• Work with industry leaders
• 401K, up to a 4% match (100% vested from day 1)

Location: This position will be located in US

Travel: Occasional travel may be needed (10% or less)

EPE is an equal opportunity/AA/Disability/Veteran employer. The EEO is the Law poster, and its supplement are available using the following links:EEOC is the Law Poster