Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

Application Engineer - Automation

2350 NE Hopkins Ct, Pullman, WA 99163-5600

Full-time · $95k–$120k (as posted)

First seen by offpeak October 4, 2026

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Job Description Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) designs and manufactures products and solutions that protect and control power systems around the world. For over 40 years, SEL has been at the forefront of innovation in protective relays, automation, communications, and cybersecurity, helping utilities and industrial customers improve reliability, safety, and efficiency of critical infrastructure where failure is not an option. Today, SEL technology operates in substations, industrial plants, renewable generation facilities, and mission-critical infrastructure worldwide.

Are you the person we’re looking for?

Our customers in electric utilities, industrial automation, renewable energy, and critical infrastructure rely on SEL for dependable protection, automation, and control solutions. As an Application Engineer, you will work directly with these customers as a trusted technical advisor, helping them design, implement, and optimize SEL solutions. You will serve as a key technical resource supporting both pre- and post-sales activities, building strong customer relationships, supporting system design decisions, and ensuring successful deployment of SEL technologies. You are someone who thrives at the intersection of engineering and customer engagement. You enjoy solving complex power system and automation challenges, but you also understand how technical decisions impact operational reliability and business outcomes. You can collaborate with protection and automation engineers one hour and support a sales engineer in closing a project the next. You are curious, practical, and driven to help customers build safe and reliable systems. In return, SEL offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, professional development opportunities, and the chance to work on mission-critical infrastructure alongside a highly collaborative and purpose-driven team. We are open to hiring this role in our Burnaby or Calgary offices.

In this role, you will:

Serve as the technical representative of SEL, acting as a liaison between customers and SEL engineering, manufacturing, and support teams
Provide technical expertise on SEL protection, automation, and communications solutions in both pre-sales and post-sales engagements
Support the sales team with consultative technical guidance, including system design, device selection, and solution architecture
Assist customers with application design, settings development, configuration, testing, and commissioning support
Manage customer technical requirements from project initiation through commissioning and ongoing support
Build and maintain strong relationships with customer engineering and operations teams to identify new opportunities and ensure long-term success
Deliver technical presentations, training sessions, and demonstrations both on-site and virtually
Participate in industry events, trade shows, and technical seminars representing SEL
Develop and maintain knowledge of industry trends, standards, and competitive solutions to support continuous improvement
Travel to customer sites as needed (typically 25–30% travel)

You will have:

Experience working at the intersection of customer engagement and engineering, ideally in a technical sales or application engineering role
Hands-on experience with power systems, protection relays, automation systems, or industrial control systems
Strong understanding of power system fundamentals, including protection schemes, SCADA, communications protocols (e.g., DNP3, IEC 61850), and substation automation
Experience with commissioning, testing, or configuring protective relays and control systems is an asset
Familiarity with industrial networking and cybersecurity principles is an asset
Knowledge of utility, industrial, or renewable energy markets
Broad understanding of trends in grid modernization, digital substations, and power system reliability
Strong business acumen with the ability to connect technical solutions to customer value
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to perform effectively in high-pressure field or customer environments
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
Ability to write and speak English coherently

Bonus qualifications:

Experience with SEL products or similar protection and control platforms
Knowledge of power system protection standards and practices (IEEE, IEC)
Experience with SEL software, and/or SEL RTAC & Automation platforms
Background in substation commissioning, protection coordination, or system studies

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.

People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.

We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range Data

New hires generally start with a base salary between $95,000 - $120,000 per year depending on skills and experience. We base our starting pay offer on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

Communication with Applicants

We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.