Senior System Protection Engineer: Grid Reliability Lead

Sargent Lundy; Cary (NC); Hybrid; USD 135,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans: Medical, Dental, Vision

Paid time off

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team. The role focuses on protection philosophies, relay settings, and power system studies for transmission and substation projects.

Responsibilities include developing protection philosophies, performing short‑circuit analysis and relay coordination, configuring relays with SEL AcSELerator and EnerVista, and reviewing P&C drawings with substation teams. Hybrid work with relocation support.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in system protection engineering for transmission/substation projects.
• Experience with protection studies: short-circuit, relay coordination, time-current curves.
• Proficiency with relay configuration tools: SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista, and other OEM software.
• Experience with Powerbase or similar relay asset databases.
• Ability to interpret P&C drawings (one-line, three-line, schematics).
• Familiarity with IEEE/ANSI/NERC PRC standards.
• Strong written and verbal communication; capable of working with utility clients and field teams.
• Experience leading portions of projects and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and application of protection philosophies and settings for transmission lines, transformers, buses, and capacitor banks.
• Perform protection studies including short-circuit analysis, relay coordination, and time-current curve development.
• Configure, set, and troubleshoot microprocessor relays using vendor software.
• Use Powerbase to manage relay records and align settings with client standards.
• Support event analysis, misoperation investigations, and recommendations for scheme adjustments.
• Develop and review P&C design documents with substation design teams (one-/three-lines, schematics).
• Assist with commissioning, field energization, RFIs, and protection issue resolution.
• Ensure protection schemes comply with IEEE/ANSI/NERC PRC standards and good utility practice.

Skills

Relay settings

Protection philosophies

CAP E/ASPEN

Relay software (SEL AcSELerator, EnerV

Powerbase

P&C drawings interpretation

IEEE/ANSI/NERC standards

Project leadership

Communication skills

Education

ABET-accredited Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

SEL AcSELerator

EnerVista

OEM relay software

CAP E/ASPEN

Job description

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team. The role focuses on protection philosophies, relay settings, and power system studies for transmission and substation projects.

Responsibilities include developing protection philosophies, performing short‑circuit analysis and relay coordination, configuring relays with SEL AcSELerator and EnerVista, and reviewing P&C drawings with substation teams. Hybrid work with relocation support.