Power Systems Protection Engineer

Rosendin•Charlotte, VA

About The Position

Power System Protection Engineer III is a senior-level engineering position responsible for performing protection studies and developing relay settings to support the implementation, commissioning, and testing of protection systems for electrical power networks. This role focuses on designing and applying protection strategies for medium and high-voltage systems serving mission critical, commercial, and industrial facilities. The position requires advanced technical expertise, the ability to work independently on complex protection challenges, and the capability to mentor and train other engineering staff.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a power systems focus.
6+ years relevant application experience in protection and relay settings for electric power systems supporting mission critical infrastructure, commercial and industrial facilities and substations.
A U.S.-based Professional Engineer (PE) registration is required.
High proficiency with power system modeling tools such as ETAP, SKM, ASPEN, and CAPE.
Applied knowledge and experience of Power system Protection on: Overcurrent / Over-Undervoltage, Transformer Differential, High and Low Impedance Busbar Differential, Generator Protection, Motor Protection, and Medium/High Voltage Line Differential and Distance Protection.
Strong experience developing protection schemes and relay settings for redundant power architectures supporting data centers and other mission critical facilities.
High proficiency in relay settings development and programming for SEL, Siemens, and GE protective relays.
Experience developing and managing relay settings files using vendor software such as SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, or equivalent.
Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical teams.
Strong leadership, written and oral communication, and organizational skills.
Strong computer skills with the ability to identify and apply appropriate software tools to support complex engineering analysis.
Proven ability to manage

Nice To Haves

Advanced experience using Mathcad and Microsoft Excel for developing protective setting calculation sheets.
Working knowledge of NERC reliability standards, particularly PRC-019/023/024/025/026/027
Experience with commonly utilized communication protocols (DNP, SEL, MMS, Modbus, etc).
Working Knowledge of IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and its application in modern substations and mission critical facilities.
Experience designing and supporting protection systems for redundant power topologies (e.g., N, N+1, 2N) common to data center electrical systems.
Proven ability to lead small to mid-size projects, including management of schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical execution.
Experience supporting proposal development including scope of work, level of work, engineering estimates, and schedule.
Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated interest in training and developing early career engineers.
Demonstrated success managing complex protection engineering tasks within multidisciplinary, fast-paced project environments.

Responsibilities

Design, specification, setting calculation, and coordination of protective relaying and relay control schemes.
Develop protection schemes and relay settings for electrical equipment, including transformers, generators, transmission lines, feeders, and buses, in accordance with client requirements and system specifications.
Develop and configure protection relay settings, including overcurrent, differential, distance and backup protection relays.
Perform coordination studies to ensure proper relay operation and minimize system downtime during fault conditions.
Use power system modeling tools (e.g. ETAP, SKM, CAPE, ASPEN) to simulate and analyze protection systems, fault scenarios, and equipment ratings.
Conduct studies such as fault analysis, short circuit, AC and DC arc flash and harmonics studies.
Support field testing, commissioning, and validation of protection relays and control systems to ensure proper operation and compliance with project requirements.
Diagnose and troubleshoot relay protection issues, perform root cause analysis, and develop corrective actions for mis-operations or unexpected trips.
Collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and clients to ensure the successful implementation of protection systems.
Prepare technical documentation, including relay settings, test reports, system protection studies, and coordination diagrams.
Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., IEEE, IEC, NEC, NFPA 70E, NERC).
Act as a proactive technical leader, guiding project teams, solving complex protection challenges, and supporting project execution across all phases from design through commissioning.