Protection & Control Engineer, Utility Substations

Base Salary

$112K - $124K

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Firm Topology

A power-delivery engineering consultancy whose protection & control practice produces relay settings and substation P&C design packages for utility clients across the Southeast.

The Team

A protection & control group within the Southeast power-delivery practice. You report to a senior P&C engineer who reviews and seals your settings work.

The challenge

The next utility client's substation upgrade needs a settings package: fault studies run, relay setting calculations done, and coordination proven across the reclosers, sectionalizing schemes, and fuses on the distribution circuits below. Every deliverable gets reviewed and sealed by a licensed senior engineer before it goes out, and the project schedule does not leave room for a settings revision to circulate twice.

Role overview

Relay settings and protection coordination for distribution and substation projects. The work is setting calculations in ASPEN or CAPE, fault studies and short circuit analysis, coordination studies across reclosers, sectionalizing schemes, and fuse coordination, and the P&C engineering design packages that go to utility clients: one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, and panel layouts. This is the consultancy track toward PE and settings ownership. You develop the settings; a licensed senior reviews and stamps them.

Specializations

relay settings developmentcoordination studiesdistribution protection

Technical requirements

  • BSEE
  • 3+ years in protection & control at a consultancy or utility, developing relay settings under senior review
  • Working proficiency with ASPEN or CAPE for fault studies and coordination studies
  • Hands-on experience with SEL distribution relays (351, 551, 651, 751) and AcSELerator
  • Ability to develop and interpret one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, and AC/DC schematics
  • Familiarity with SCADA packages, RTUs, and DNP3 or Modbus communications

Preferred qualifications

  • EIT/FE license and active progress toward PE
  • Exposure to GE, ABB, or Siemens relay platforms and Enervista or DIGSI
  • Experience with CYME/CYMDIST or ETAP for distribution modeling
  • Familiarity with IEC 61850 in substation designs

Key responsibilities

  • Perform fault studies, coordination studies, and relay setting calculations for distribution and substation projects
  • Develop and maintain protection settings for SEL 351, 551, 651, and 751 relay platforms using AcSELerator
  • Develop P&C engineering design packages: one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts
  • Model distribution protection in ASPEN OneLiner or CAPE and run short circuit analysis against client design standards
  • Develop recloser, sectionalizing scheme, and fuse coordination for distribution circuits, including S&C TripSavers
  • Support commissioning and field testing teams during relay installation and produce as-built documentation

Compensation & Benefits

  • Base salary: $112,000 - $124,000
  • Annual bonus target 8%
  • PE exam fees and prep costs covered
  • Hybrid schedule
  • Continuing education budget ($3,000/year)

Protection & Control Engineer, Utility Substations

$112K - $124K base

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