System Protection Engineer (Entry, Staff, Senior, or Principal)

Xcel Energy Services Inc; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Program

Medical/Dental/Vision

Holidays and PTO

Pension/401(k)

Job summary

Xcel Energy is hiring an entry-level engineer to develop technical expertise across a narrow specialty. The role offers supervised work, potential leadership of small projects, and mentoring while building core engineering competencies.

The position emphasizes documentation, testing, analysis, and collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, and Regulatory teams as you grow your technical skills.

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET-accredited curriculum.
• Electrical engineering degree preferred.
• EIT/FE strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Applies technical standards and principles to tasks of limited scope.
• Supports development of technical documentation and calculations.
• Provides field engineering support for projects under supervision.
• Coordinates projects or portions of projects with guidance from senior staff.
• Assists with bid/evaluation processes by analyzing existing documents.

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Electrical engineering degree preferred

Job description

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar – delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy. Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact – both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best. Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

The below job summary and responsibilities reflect the entry engineer level role. The successfully chosen candidate will be placed at a level that is commensurate with their skills and experience as different skills and/or experience will be required at the staff, senior and principal engineer levels.

Position Summary

This position is designed to develop technical expertise in a particular area of specialty. Activities are of limited scope requiring knowledge of principles and techniques commonly employed in the specific narrow area of assignments. May lead small-medium, non-critical projects and/or provide field oversight of critical projects under direction of higher level engineer or supervisor. Work is reviewed for soundness of technical judgment, overall adequacy and accuracy. As proficiency is gained, may work on portions of larger projects. Works under supervision and follows established procedures. May supervise or coordinate the work of interns, drafters, craft personnel, technicians and/or others.

Essential Responsibilities

Uses and applies technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques to perform activities/assignments of limited scope.

Supports the development of technical documentation (including but not limited to designs, testing, calculations, reports, standards, etc.).

Utilizes and may assist with the development of procedures.

Provides ongoing technical support for project activities within areas such as Operations, Maintenance, Testing/diagnostics, Regulatory, etc.

May provide field engineering oversight for activities such as commissioning, testing, inspections etc. under direct supervision.

Coordinates/leads projects or portions of projects (including phases such as research, design, equipment selection, procurement support, installation and commissioning), under the direction of a higher level engineer or supervisor.

Under the direction of a higher level engineer/supervisor, supports bid/evaluation processes by performing basic analysis and calculations on existing documentation and materials that support the preparation of bid documents.

In completing segments of technical evaluations for proposals may need to effectively communicate with other business areas of the company following appropriate processes.

Effectively exchanges information in all formats, on matters having a wide range of importance and complexity both inter-organizationally and with outside customer/vendors.

May coordinate the work of interns, drafters, technicians, and/or others and provides guidance and mentoring to less experienced engineers.

Responsible for continuous self development of technical skills and competencies.

May perform activities such as budgeting, estimating, forecasting, accounting, work order management, in support of engineering projects.

Entry Engineer Level (Salary Range: $70,000-86,667)

Minimum Requirements Required bachelor's degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum; electrical engineering degree preferred.

0+ years relevant engineering experience.

Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Preferred EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) preferred.

Staff Engineer Level (Salary Range: $81,800-$106,267)

Minimum Requirements Bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited, electrical engineering degree preferred 2+year's relevant engineering experience.

Demonstrated broad knowledge & proficiency in specialty area, knowledge of related specialties, & general knowledge of other related disciplines.

Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills & core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) strongly preferred.

Senior Engineer Level (Salary Range: $97,000-129,267)

Minimum Requirements Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred 5+ years relevant engineering experience with EIT/FE (Engineer in Training/Fundamentals of Engineering) required; 7+ years relevant engineering experience without EIT/FE.

Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Preferred PE (Professional Engineer) registration may be required depending on business need.

Principal Engineer (Salary Range: $112,000-156,600)

Minimum Requirements Required bachelor’s degree in engineering from ABET accredited curriculum, electrical engineering degree preferred 9+ years relevant engineering experience with PE (Professional Engineer) registration required; 15+ years relevant engineering experience without PE.

Ability to demonstrate the unique technical skills and core competencies for this engineering level established & documented by the organization.

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.

Our Values Combined, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

Our Employee Commitments Work that makes a difference, A team you can count on, Opportunities to grow, Rewards that help you thrive.

Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 10/11/26

EEO is the Law (PDF) | Equal Opportunity Statement (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

Accessibility Statement Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users.

You. Us. Together.

At Xcel Energy, we’re more than an energy company. We’re reinventing how we power communities. Redefining how we care for customers. Reaffirming our commitment to the planet. We’re committed to leading with equity and inclusion.

You’re not waiting for change – you’re creating it. You’re driven to protect the environment, support your community, and seek innovation. You want a career that grows with you and an employer who values you. You are reliable, trustworthy and bring integrity to everything you do. We are leading the way in clean energy. We’re using technology and innovation in every facet of our company. We’re providing safe, stable jobs with robust benefits. We keep our customers at the center of all we do. We’re committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can provide carbon-free electricity by 2050. Together, we can take care of the environment and our communities. Together, we can create a place where everyone belongs. Together we’re building a better tomorrow.

This position is eligible for the following benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $70,000.00 to $156,600.00 per year