Power Systems Protection Engineer

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 550,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Professional development

Paid annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Power Systems Protection Engineer for our client in East London, Eastern Cape. You will design and maintain protection schemes for substations and power lines, perform fault studies, and ensure compliance with relevant standards.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and at least 5 years of protection engineering experience, with proficiency in ETAP, PSS/E, and ASPEN.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in power system protection engineering.
• Proficiency with ETAP, PSS/E, and ASPEN.
• Solid knowledge of protective relaying principles: overcurrent, differential, distance, and voltage relays.
• Experience with substation equipment and control systems.
• Knowledge of protection testing equipment and procedures.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and diagnostic skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to work independently and in a team.
• Professional registration with ECSA is highly desirable.
• Experience in East London or Eskom/municipal networks is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Design, specify, and apply protective relaying schemes for transmission and distribution systems.
• Perform fault studies, load flow, and transient stability analyses using power system software.
• Develop protection coordination studies for selective tripping.
• Specify and select protective relays, circuit breakers, and other protection equipment.
• Develop testing procedures and oversee commissioning and maintenance of protection systems.
• Troubleshoot protection system maloperations and identify root causes.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards (NRS, IEC).
• Collaborate with substation design teams to integrate protection schemes.
• Prepare technical reports and recommendations for upgrades.
• Stay current with advancements in protection technology.

Skills

Power system protection

Protective relaying

Fault analysis

Team collaboration

Analytical thinking

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ETAP

PSS/E

ASPEN

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a key player in the electricity distribution sector, is seeking a skilled Power Systems Protection Engineer to join their dynamic team in East London, Eastern Cape. This role is essential for ensuring the reliability, stability, and safety of the electrical grid through the design, application, testing, and maintenance of protection systems for substations and power lines. The ideal candidate will have a robust understanding of power system dynamics, fault analysis, and protective relaying principles. You will collaborate with design engineers, field personnel, and operations teams to maintain and upgrade protection schemes. This is a significant opportunity to contribute to the robust functioning of the energy infrastructure in the Eastern Cape region and advance your career in power system protection.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, specify, and apply protective relaying schemes for transmission and distribution systems.
• Perform fault studies, load flow analysis, and transient stability studies using power system analysis software.
• Develop and review protection coordination studies to ensure selective tripping of protective devices.
• Specify and select protective relays, circuit breakers, and other protection equipment.
• Develop testing procedures and oversee the commissioning and maintenance of protection systems.
• Troubleshoot protection system maloperations and identify root causes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, codes, and regulations (e.g., NRS, IEC).
• Collaborate with substation design teams to integrate protection schemes into new and existing infrastructure.
• Prepare technical reports, documentation, and recommendations for protection system upgrades.
• Stay current with advancements in protection technology and methodologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in power system protection engineering.
• Proficiency in power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, PSS/E, ASPEN).
• Solid understanding of protective relaying principles, including overcurrent, differential, distance, and voltage relays.
• Experience with substation equipment and control systems.
• Knowledge of protection testing equipment and procedures.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and diagnostic skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Professional registration with ECSA is highly desirable.
• Experience in the East London area or with Eskom/municipal distribution networks is beneficial.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid work arrangement providing work-life balance.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund.
• Opportunities for professional development and advanced training in power system protection.
• Involvement in critical infrastructure projects.
• A collaborative and technically proficient team environment.
• Paid annual leave.