Senior Relay Technician - Utility & High-Voltage Protection - Union

Asplundh Electrical Testing; Palmdale (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Retirement plan

Company-provided life insurance

Supplemental life insurance options

Disability coverage

Pre-paid legal plan

EAP for well-being

Paid time off

Job summary

Asplundh Electrical Testing seeks a Senior Relay Technician to lead protective relay testing, calibration, and commissioning for utility substations. You will guide field crews, review complex protection schemes, and ensure safe, reliable operation of medium- and high-voltage systems.

Travel regionally to customer sites, mentor onsite technicians, and contribute to outage planning and testing reports. A strong safety background and NETA credentials are preferred.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in protective relaying for utility substations.
• Demonstrated experience testing medium- to high-voltage protection systems.
• Strong working knowledge of microprocessor-based relays.
• Experience with modern relay test platforms.
• Solid understanding of utility safety rules and energized work practices.
• Ability to interpret protection diagrams, AC/DC schematics, wiring and logic drawings.
• Valid driver’s license; ability to work outdoors, travel, and lift up to 70 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Lead job briefings and safety tailboards, reinforcing a Safety First culture.
• Perform protective relay testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and commissioning on medium- and high-voltage systems.
• Test and validate transmission and distribution protection schemes (distance, differential, overcurrent, breaker failure, bus protection).
• Verify control and protection circuits for transformers, breakers, feeders, capacitor banks and reactors.
• Support outage planning, switching coordination, energization, and restoration activities.
• Perform event analysis, relay target review, and disturbance investigations.
• Lead and mentor onsite technicians; coordinate with project managers and utility customers.
• Create and maintain accurate test reports and field documentation.
• Participate in job walks, project estimating, and customer technical discussions.
• Serve as a technical resource and trainer for developing relay technicians.

Skills

Protective relaying

Substation testing

Microprocessor relays

Relay test platforms

Safety procedures

Reading schematics

Driver's license

Outdoor travel

Education

NETA Level III/IV

Technical degree or military training

OSHA 10/30

Tools

Relay test platforms

Job description

About the Role

At Asplundh Electrical Testing, safety is not a priority—it is our foundation. The Senior Relay Technician plays a critical role in ensuring the safe, reliable operation of medium‑ and high‑voltage utility substations through advanced protective relay testing, commissioning, and maintenance activities.

This position is ideal for professionals with a utility background who have hands‑on experience testing and commissioning transmission and distribution protection systems. You will serve as a technical lead in the field, guide crews through complex outage work, and reinforce Asplundh’s reputation for safety, precision, and service excellence.

We are experiencing strong growth and are immediately hiring Senior Relay Technicians with deep expertise in protection and control, relay schemes, and substation energization. If you enjoy solving complex protection challenges, leading safe work execution, and influencing system reliability at scale, we’d like to speak with you.

As a NETA‑accredited, independent electrical testing and engineering organization, Asplundh Electrical Testing sets the benchmark for technical excellence and unwavering safety across the utility, renewable energy, data center, and industrial sectors.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

What You’ll Do

• Lead job briefings and safety tailboards, reinforcing a “Safety First, Always” field culture
• Perform protective relay testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and commissioning on medium‑ and high‑voltage systems
• Test and validate transmission and distribution protection schemes, including:
  • Distance, differential, overcurrent, breaker failure, and bus protection
• Verify control and protection circuits for:
  • Power transformers
  • Medium‑ and high‑voltage circuit breakers
  • Feeder relays
  • Capacitor banks and reactors
• Support outage planning, switching coordination, energization, and restoration activities
• Perform event analysis, relay target review, and disturbance investigations
• Lead and mentor onsite technicians; coordinate work execution with project managers, system operators, and utility customers
• Create and maintain accurate test reports, as‑left settings, and field documentation
• Participate in job walks, project estimating, and customer technical discussions
• Serve as a technical resource and trainer for developing relay technicians

Travel Requirements

Work is performed at customer sites throughout the assigned region. Regular regional travel is required, with opportunities for extended assignments outside the region as needed. Company vehicle provided for regional work‑related travel.

What You Bring

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in protective relaying for utility substations
• Demonstrated experience testing medium‑ to high‑voltage (5kV–500kV) protection systems
• Strong working knowledge of microprocessor‑based relays
• Experience with modern relay test platforms
• Solid understanding of utility safety rules, energized work practices, and lockout/tagout procedures
• Ability to interpret:
  • Protection diagrams
  • AC/DC schematics
  • Wiring and logic drawings
• Valid driver’s license; ability to work outdoors, travel, and lift up to 70 lbs

Education & Credentials

• NETA Level III or IV Certification preferred for Senior roles (Candidates at other NETA levels are encouraged to apply for opportunities across the organization)
• Experience with:
  • Circuit breakers
  • Power transformers
  • Switchgear
  • RTUs and substation communications
• Technical degree, apprenticeship, or military electrical training
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving history

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plan to help you secure your future
• Company‑provided life insurance for added peace of mind
• Supplemental life insurance options, including spouse and child coverage
• A variety of voluntary Aflac supplemental insurance programs
• Long‑term disability coverage
• Pre‑paid legal plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support personal and professional well‑being
• Paid time off to recharge and refresh
• Paid holidays
• Access to employee discount programs and helpful resources
• Benefits listed above are available to eligible employees. Eligibility requirements and plan provisions apply

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Individuals with a disability who desire a reasonable accommodation can contact the ADA Coordinator by calling 1-833-222-3066. We partner with the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Customs and Immigration Service to e‑Verify all newly hired employees.