Senior Relay Field Engineer

Qualus; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation bonus

Per Diem

Company truck

Mentors and career development

Paid travel home

Travel to client site

Job summary

Qualus in the United States is seeking a Senior Relay Field Engineer to lead testing and maintenance of transmission and distribution substation equipment including relays and pilot channels. You will interpret drawings, write procedures, and perform commissioning and calibration across multiple sites.

The role requires strong communication, safety discipline, and willingness to travel to client sites, with opportunities for career development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET university or an associates degree with a power systems emphasis.
• Minimum of 5 years of field experience in commissioning, panel/equipment checkout, relay calibration, testing and repairing substation relaying.
• Ability to read substation drawings and interpret wiring/diagrams; knowledge of SCADA/Fault Data/SER is a plus.
• Excellent communication, safety awareness, and ability to travel to client sites as required.

Responsibilities

• Read and interpret substation drawings and wiring diagrams.
• Support in writing procedures and test plans for maintenance and construction.
• Perform testing of relays, metering, alarms, and trip functionality with SCADA interfaces.
• Troubleshoot and repair substation relaying and control equipment; commission new substations and equipment.
• Plan, schedule, and complete test activities on time with no service interruptions.
• Provide project technical support to field service personnel.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

English proficiency

Microsoft Office

Driver's license

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

Associates/AET degree (power emphasis)

Tools

SCADA

Test equipment software

Job description

Power your future with Qualus

in our Field Engineering department as a Senior Relay Field Engineer. Our Senior Relay Field Engineers perform testing/routine maintenance of Transmission and Distribution substation power equipment, relaying (electro-mechanical, solid state and micro-processor), pilot channel equipment (power line carrier, pilot wire, transfer, transfer trip, fiber optic, CVT's, line tuners, line traps, etc.), controls and communications equipment.

Incentives

• Sign-on/Relocation Bonus up to $10k.
• External and Internal Referral Bonuses up to $10k.
• Per Diem up to $225 depending on client.
• Overtime: Up to 50+ working hours per week depending on client.
• Company Truck for company and personal use.
• Career development opportunities, including strong mentors and company investment.
• Travel Schedule & Paid Travel Home: 3 weeks travel to client site with paid housing and long weekend (~3 days) home.
• Location: Candidate may live anywhere in the US and travel to the client location if relocation is not preferred.

Responsibilities

• Reading and properly interpreting substation drawings (e.g., single line drawings, AC and DC schematics, panel wiring diagrams, and panel layout drawings.
• Support in writing procedures and/or test plans in support of maintenance and construction activities.
• Testing, including (without limitation): reading/verifying all voltage and current inputs to relays; verifying all metering (local and SCADA); calibrating all relays; trip testing (local and SCADA); verifying all alarms (local and SCADA); verifying all function switches, etc.
• Performing routine troubleshooting and repair of substation relaying and control equipment. Commission new substations, power equipment, relaying (electro-mechanical, solid state and microprocessor), pilot channel equipment (power line carrier, pilot wire, transfer, transfer trip, fiber optic, CVT's, line tuners, line traps, etc.), controls and communications equipment
• Planning, scheduling, and completing test activities efficiently, on time, without service interruptions
• Providing Project Technical Support to Field Service personnel

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET university or Associates/ AET degree, degree with an emphasis on power systems preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of field experience in commissioning, panel and equipment checkout, relay calibration, testing and repairing substation relaying and control schemes
• Experience is desirable in any of the following related areas: substation design (including protection & control engineering); substation construction; substation commissioning; SCADA/Fault Data/SER/Integration‑Automation equipment installation and testing
• 3 phase power systems; power system protection & control schemes; test equipment; test equipment software
• Test equipment and toll/wiring usage; interpretation of wiring and elementary diagrams; basic test skills to perform duties listed above; basic PC skills
• Quickly learn and apply test procedure for various types of substation equipment; communicate effectively with diverse groups, tailoring communication for audience and situation
• Learn and apply client’s switching procedures and safety measures as required
• Reference and complete assignments as described in applicable specifications
• Perform regular field work both indoors and outdoors
• Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, business acumen, management ability
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Valid Driver’s license and good driving record
• Ability to communicate effectively in English (inclusive of reading and writing) due to the nature of safety‑related materials, documentation, and interactions with clients.

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, energy efficiency 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 2,000 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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.

We are committed to a secure and transparent hiring process. We do not request payment or sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers or banking details, during the application process. Please use caution and verify opportunities through our official channels.