Senior Electrical Protection Engineer – Substation & Grid Specialist

Placements24; Pretoria; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid and retirement fund

Professional development & training

Generous annual leave

Based in Pretoria - central location

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Electrical Protection Engineer in Pretoria to lead protection schemes for high-voltage systems. You will design, implement and test protection relays, coordinate protections, and mentor junior engineers on complex projects with clients in the infrastructure sector.

The role requires a strong background in numerical and electromechanical relays, IEC 61850, DNP3 and Modbus, plus a Pr. Eng. is desirable. Join us for challenging national projects and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 7 years of specialized experience in electrical power system protection engineering.
• Experience in design and application of numerical and electromechanical relays.
• Proficiency with power system simulation and protection analysis software.
• Knowledge of substation design principles and equipment.
• Familiarity with IEC 61850, DNP3 and Modbus communication protocols.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills; report writing and presentations.
• Pr. Eng. registration with ECSA is highly desirable.
• Legal eligibility to work in South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop protection schemes for HV substations, lines and generators.
• Perform protection coordination studies using ETAP/ASPEN or similar tools.
• Specify and configure protective relays and circuit breakers.
• Develop testing procedures and oversee commissioning of protection systems.
• Analyze faults and performance data to identify improvements.
• Provide expert protection support and troubleshooting.
• Ensure designs comply with IEC/IEEE/SANS standards and best practices.
• Collaborate with project managers and other disciplines to ensure success.
• Mentor junior protection engineers and support technical development.
• Stay updated on new protection technologies and standards.

Skills

Protection coordination

Protection scheme design

Power system analysis

Numerical relays

Electromechanical relays

Client presentations

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

ETAP

ASPEN

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Senior Electrical Protection Engineer in Pretoria to lead protection schemes for high-voltage systems. You will design, implement and test protection relays, coordinate protections, and mentor junior engineers on complex projects with clients in the infrastructure sector.

The role requires a strong background in numerical and electromechanical relays, IEC 61850, DNP3 and Modbus, plus a Pr. Eng. is desirable. Join us for challenging national projects and growth opportunities.