Staff Electrical Engineer

Novax Recruitment Group; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Novax Recruitment Group seeks a seasoned Substation Protection and Control Engineer for US projects. You will own protection philosophy, engineer-of-record responsibilities and design substations from concept through commissioning.

The role requires 10+ years in HV electrical engineering, direct protection/control design, and experience with 69kV–345kV substations. ABET degree and active PE license (NV/SC eligibility) are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of high-voltage electrical engineering experience.
• Direct protection and control design experience—not solely substation construction or maintenance.
• Experience designing substations between 69kV and 345kV.
• ABET-accredited electrical engineering degree.
• Active PE license; eligibility to obtain PE in NV and SC.
• Strong knowledge of NEC, IEEE, NESC and NFPA requirements.
• Experience with SEL relays and SEL AcSELerator.
• Power-system modelling with ETAP, SKM or similar software.
• Ability to own high-voltage design packages from concept to commissioning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of substations operating from 69kV to 345kV.
• Develop protection, control, SCADA and substation automation systems.
• Produce relay settings using SEL AcSELerator or equivalent software.
• Perform load-flow, short-circuit, arc-flash and stability studies.
• Conduct electromagnetic-transient simulations.
• Review RFIs, vendor submittals and shop drawings.
• Support construction, testing, commissioning and troubleshooting.
• Serve as Engineer of Record for assigned projects.

Skills

High-voltage design

Protection and control design

Power-system studies

Relays (SEL AcSELerator)

PSS\u00aeE

PSLF

PSCAD

ETAP

ASPEN OneLiner

Engineering leadership/mentoring

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Tools

SEL AcSELerator

SEL Relays

ETAP

PSSE/PSLF

PSCAD

ASPEN OneLiner

Job description

Imagine being given responsibility for the high-voltage infrastructure behind some of America’s most ambitious new industrial and energy projects.

Our client is developing complex manufacturing facilities, renewable-energy assets and battery-storage projects across the United States. None of that infrastructure can operate without substations capable of receiving, controlling and distributing power safely and reliably.

That is where you come in.

They need an experienced Substation Protection and Control Engineer who can take a project from its initial system concept through detailed design, construction, testing and energisation.

You will not simply review drawings produced by consultants. You will make the technical decisions, develop the protection philosophy and serve as the Engineer of Record for assigned projects.

What you will be doing

One week, you may be designing a new industrial substation operating between 69kV and 345kV. The next, you could be developing relay settings, reviewing a grid-stability study or resolving a commissioning issue alongside the field team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the design of substations operating from 69kV to 345kV
• Integrating upstream transmission lines with downstream MV distribution
• Developing single-line diagrams, physical layouts and grounding plans
• Designing protection, control, SCADA and substation-automation systems
• Producing relay settings using SEL AcSELerator or equivalent software
• Performing load-flow, short-circuit, arc-flash and stability studies
• Conducting electromagnetic-transient simulations
• Selecting transformers, breakers, reactors, CTs, PTs and protection relays
• Working with utilities and ISO/RTO organisations on interconnection studies
• Reviewing RFIs, vendor submittals, shop drawings and technical bids
• Supporting construction, testing, commissioning and troubleshooting
• Serving as the Electrical Engineer of Record for assigned projects
• Developing internal high-voltage design standards and mentoring junior engineers

The background we need

The strongest candidates are likely to come from:

• Electric utilities and transmission owners
• Substation engineering and EPC consultancies
• Renewable-energy and utility-scale BESS developers

You should have:

• At least 10 years’ high-voltage electrical engineering experience
• Direct protection and control design experience—not solely substation construction or maintenance
• Experience designing substations between 69kV and 345kV
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited programme
• An active Professional Engineer licence
• Eligibility to obtain PE registration in Nevada and South Carolina
• Strong knowledge of NEC, IEEE, NESC and relevant NFPA requirements
• Experience with SEL relays and SEL AcSELerator
• Advanced capability with PSS®E, PSLF, PSCAD and ASPEN OneLiner or comparable platforms
• Power-system modelling experience using ETAP, SKM or similar software
• The ability to independently own high-voltage design packages from concept through commissioning

HVDC systems, converter stations and medium-voltage DC distribution experience would be valuable, but the immediate priority is someone with genuine substation protection and control expertise.

This role will not suit someone whose background is limited to industrial MV systems, electrical maintenance, field installation or project management. The successful engineer must be able to demonstrate personal ownership of relay design, protection coordination and transmission-level studies.