Tx Planning & Protection Engineer II - Transmission Planning & Protection - Morristown Gen. Office

FirstEnergy; Morristown (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy is seeking a Transmission Protection Engineer to design and coordinate relay protection for FE's transmission and sub-transmission systems across multiple territories. The role focuses on protection schemes, system analysis, and setting development to ensure reliability.

You will model systems, perform coordination studies, and maintain documentation in PowerBase, while supporting storm restoration and safety initiatives within FE's operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from ABET accredited program.
• FE certificate preferred; PE license acceptable alternative.
• Minimum of 2 years engineering experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for transmission and sub-transmission projects and budgets.
• Develop protective relay design specifications for lines and substations.
• Model transmission systems for short-circuit calculations and relay coordination.
• Develop relay settings using time-current and R-X coordination methods.
• Maintain protection settings records in PowerBase and perform peer reviews.
• Analyze SCADA alarms and fault records; document findings and corrective actions.
• Study new load/generation interconnection facilities for the assigned area.
• Coordinate with FE operating companies and regional reliability councils.

Skills

Relay protection

Protection design

Short circuit analysis

Time-current coordination

CAPe software

PowerBase

SCADA data analysis

NERC PRC compliance

Education

ABET accredited BSEE / BSCE / BSME

PE License or ABET EE tech degree with advanced degree

FE Certificate (preferred)

Tools

CAPe

PowerBase

Job description

About The Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

Job Description

FirstEnergy

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

A Transmission Protection Engineer is responsible for performing relay protection functions across FirstEnergy's (FE) transmission and sub-transmission systems. The primary focus is on studying and protecting the transmission and sub-transmission lines, system interconnections, and transmission and sub-transmission substations to ensure reliable operation. Engineers will primarily work on relay protection system designs, setting development and system analyses for those FE assets contained within FirstEnergy’s service territories.

Positions are available in Akron, Ohio, Greensburg, PA and Reading, PA with consideration given to other reporting locations based on expertise within FirstEnergy’s territories.

Responsibilities Include

• Providing technical support and guidance to develop transmission and sub-transmission infrastructure projects, plans and capital budgets to maintain the reliability and integrity of the FE transmission protection system.
• Developing protective relay design specifications for transmission line and substation projects for use by Design Engineers in developing construction implementation packages. This includes specifying the types of protection schemes to be employed including specific details on relay models and communication architecture, instrument transformer selection, input and output contact assignments, etc.
• Performing timely completion of modeling of the transmission system for short circuit calculation, relay modeling and coordination, breaker duty calculations and fault locating ensuring compliance with NERC, RF and FE protection criteria.
• Developing relay settings for new and existing protection schemes. This involves performing relay setting coordination studies through the use of "time-current coordination" curves, "resistance-reactance" (R-X) diagrams, and step-distance diagrams, as well as the utilization of the short circuit, one-line, coordination graphics, relay checking and system simulator modules of the CAPE (Computer Assisted Protection Engineering) software program.
• Participating in the peer review, electronic issuance, as-left verification and retention of all protection settings through the use of the company's setting management system - PowerBase
• Performing timely analysis of automatic trippings of the transmission and sub-transmission systems. Gathering and analyzing SCADA alarm data, relay targets, digital fault recorder and relay event records and documents the findings in the ED Outage Analysis (EDOA) system. Following up on incorrect operations with work requests and corrective action plans to field personnel. Documenting findings and status of corrective action plans periodically to FE management and RFC.
• Performing studies related to new load and generation interconnection facilities attaching to the assigned area
• Performing transmission protection activities with the FE operating companies (distribution), other utilities, nonutility generation, the Regional Transmission Organization, and Reliability Councils
• Following established procedures and retaining evidence to support compliance with the various NERC Protection and Control (PRC) Reliability Standards
• Providing staff assistance to management and higher levels of professionals, as needed
• Conducting technical research; Compiling and analyzing moderately complex data; Solving practical problems
• Preparing technical reports and summaries; Making presentations when necessary
• Demonstrating a solid commitment to all aspects of safety
• Meeting customer needs by providing sound service and responsiveness.
• Exercising sound decision making by developing alternatives and recommendations to technical work processes
• Supporting FE storm restoration processes including performing assigned field storm roles during significant system disturbances

Engineer Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE, BSCE, BSME) from an ABET accredited institution is required. Acceptable alternatives are: (1) a Professional Engineer’s (PE) License (2) a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Technology from an ABET accredited institution (3) a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering or technical field of study (non-ABET) plus an advanced degree in Electrical, Civil or Mechanical Engineering from a university with an ABET accredited Bachelor’s program. Electrical Engineering is preferred.
• A Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate is preferred.
• Minimum of 2 (two) years of Engineering experience is required.

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy, which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers, and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.