Electrical Protection Engineer

Vulcan Recruit; Germiston, Kempton Park, Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company is seeking a driven Electrical Protection Engineer to design protection systems and ensure reliability across extensive projects in Africa. The candidate should have a B.Eng Electrical or N.Dip Electrical, with at least 3-5 years of experience and strong problem-solving abilities. Extensive travel will be required, along with a willingness to work within mining environments.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years industry experience.
• Proven problem-solving ability in addressing field issues.
• Self-motivated approach to design and implementation.

Responsibilities

• Develop protection schemes for substations and overhead lines.
• Conduct protection coordination studies and power system modeling.
• Prepare design documentation and technical specifications.

Skills

Protection system design

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Education

B.Eng Electrical / N.Dip Electrical

Tools

ETAP

DIgSILENT

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Specification

Position: Electrical Protection Engineer
Start Date: 1 November 2025
Location: Linbro Park, Johannesburg (with extensive travel across Africa)
Contract Type: Independent Contractor (IC) Starting at 12 Months
Contract Rate (Based on Experience): ZAR 40,000 – ZAR 80,000 per month (Cost to Company as IC)

Company Overview

Our client is a leading electrical EPCM contractor specializing in the engineering and design of medium to high voltage substations, overhead lines, power factor correction, harmonic filtration, and emergency generation solutions. Operating primarily across Central and Northern Africa, they deliver projects of critical importance to the mining, industrial, and energy sectors.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a driven and detail-oriented Electrical Protection Engineer with a self-motivated approach and strong problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate will design and implement robust protection systems, support project execution, and ensure system reliability across substations, transmission lines, and generation facilities. A “can-do” attitude, strong ethics, and a willingness to travel are essential for this role.

Qualifications & Skills

Education B.Eng Electrical / N.Dip Electrical (Required)

Languages English: First Language (Required) Afrikaans: Second Language (Optional) Additional languages: Advantageous

Experience Minimum of 3–5 years industry experience

Proven problem-solving ability in addressing field issues and adapting designs to site-specific conditions

Key Responsibilities

1. Protection System Design & Engineering

• Develop protection schemes for substations, overhead lines, PV plants, and diesel generation facilities
• Specify and select protective relays, breakers, and other protective devices
• Perform fault analysis, relay settings calculations, and arc flash analysis

2. System Studies & Coordination

• Conduct protection coordination studies and power system modelling (ETAP/DIgSILENT)
• Analyze stability and transient behavior of systems to ensure correct protection responses

3. Project Engineering & Design Support

• Prepare design documentation, single-line diagrams, schematics, and wiring diagrams
• Write technical specifications for protection and control equipment
• Ensure compliance with relevant standards and codes

4. Procurement & Vendor Management

• Assist with procurement packages and technical evaluations
• Review vendor drawings and participate in FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing)

5. Construction & Commissioning Support

• Supervise installation of protection and control systems
• Develop and execute commissioning plans, including relay and functional testing
• Troubleshoot system malfunctions and provide as-built documentation

6. Maintenance & Operations Support

• Develop maintenance plans and failure analysis reports
• Provide training to operations and maintenance teams

7. Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Stay up to date on emerging protection technologies (digital relays, IEC 61850 systems)
• Contribute to R&D and workflow optimization

Technical Expertise

• Substations: Design of protection schemes for HV and MV substations (busbar, transformer, feeder protection)
• Overhead Lines: Development of distance and differential protection schemes for transmission and distribution networks
• Diesel Generation: Protection for standby and prime diesel generators, including synchronisation and load-sharing philosophies
• Software: ETAP / DIgSILENT, AutoCAD, and relay configuration software
• Standards: Familiarity with IEC 61850, IEEE, ANSI, SANS, and local grid codes

Soft Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to coordinate with clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams
• Attention to detail with high standards of accuracy
• Open to constructive criticism and continuous learning
• Resilient, adaptable, and solution-focused

Additional Requirements

Must be able to work within a mining environment

Willingness to travel extensively (Mali, Morocco, Ghana, DRC, Zambia, etc.)

Valid passport required

Not easily offended, open-minded, and collaborative