Senior Electrical Protection Engineer

Placements24; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Pension fund

Overtime opportunities

Training and development

Leave entitlement

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton seeks a Senior Electrical Protection Engineer to design, implement and maintain protection schemes for power transmission and distribution. You will evaluate faults, perform coordination studies and oversee relay testing and commissioning to safeguard the grid.

This role requires deep expertise in protection relays and industry standards. You will lead documentation efforts, collaborate with grid operations, and stay abreast of new protection technologies while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems or Protection.
• 8+ years of specialized experience in electrical power system protection engineering.
• In-depth knowledge of protection relays (electromechanical, static, numerical).
• Experience with protection analysis software (ETAP, CAPE, DigSilent) and relay setting software.
• PE/Pr.Eng registration with ECSA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design protection schemes for transmission and distribution substations.
• Perform fault studies and coordination studies.
• Conduct arc flash hazard analysis.
• Oversee testing and commissioning of protective relays and equipment.
• Maintain protection system documentation (SLDs and relay files).
• Ensure compliance with standards and company policies.
• Analyze disturbances and root causes of protection failures.
• Collaborate with grid operations to optimize protection performance.

Skills

Protection engineering

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Team communication

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Pr.Eng registration with ECSA preferred

Tools

ETAP

CAPE

DigSilent

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a major utility provider responsible for the electricity infrastructure in a significant region, is seeking a highly experienced Senior Electrical Protection Engineer to be based in their Sandton, Gauteng office. This role is central to ensuring the safety, stability, and reliability of the power network by designing, implementing, and maintaining sophisticated protection schemes. You will be responsible for system analysis, setting coordination studies, and overseeing the commissioning of protection systems. This is a critical position for a seasoned expert looking to contribute to the integrity of the national power grid and work within a dynamic and essential service industry in Sandton.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and specify protection schemes for transmission and distribution substations, including relay settings and logic diagrams.
• Conduct comprehensive fault studies, coordination studies, and arc flash hazard analysis.
• Oversee the testing and commissioning of protective relays and associated equipment.
• Develop and maintain protection system documentation, including single-line diagrams and relay setting files.
• Ensure compliance of protection systems with relevant industry standards and company policies.
• Analyze system disturbances and perform root cause analysis for protection system failures.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to protection engineers and technicians.
• Collaborate with grid operations and planning teams to optimize protection system performance.
• Stay abreast of new protection technologies and methodologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, with a specialization in Power Systems or Protection Engineering.
• A minimum of 8 years of specialized experience in electrical power system protection engineering.
• In-depth knowledge of protection relays (electromechanical, static, numerical) and associated hardware.
• Proficiency in using protection analysis software (e.g., ETAP, CAPE, DigSilent) and relay setting software.
• Strong understanding of transmission and distribution system operations and configurations.
• Experience with substation testing and commissioning procedures.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• Professional Engineer (Pr.Eng) registration with ECSA is highly preferred.

Benefits

Our client offers an excellent salary package, comprehensive medical aid, a substantial pension fund, and opportunities for overtime compensation. Employees benefit from extensive training and professional development programs to stay at the forefront of protection technology. This role offers the chance to work on critical infrastructure in Sandton and contribute to the reliability of the power supply for a large population. We foster a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous improvement. Additional benefits include performance bonuses, generous leave entitlement, and access to employee assistance programs. Join a vital organization committed to providing reliable energy services throughout Gauteng.