Power Systems Protection Engineer

We are looking for a motivated and collaborative Power System Protection Engineer who brings curiosity, initiative, and a strong desire to learn and grow with our SEL Engineering Services team. As a Power System Protection Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the reliable and secure operation of power systems by designing, programming, testing, and implementing effective protection and control schemes. Your technical knowledge and growing expertise in protection and control schemes, power system studies, and project execution will contribute to solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure.

 As a Protection Engineer, a typical day might include the following:    

• Design, develop, and implement protection and control schemes for power systems. 

• Develop protective relay settings for industrial facilities, generation plants, substations, transmission and distribution systems.    

• Work alongside industry-recognized protection experts while developing expertise in advanced relay technologies, transmission protection, and utility modernization initiatives.  

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including project managers, engineers, and technicians, to assess system requirements and implement protection strategies.    

• Perform system testing and commissioning activities to validate the functionality and performance of protection schemes.    

• Follow and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.    

 This job might be for you if:    

• You have a B.S. or M.S. degree in electrical engineering or a relevant discipline 

• You are curious, coachable, and willing to take initiative while working collaboratively and supporting the success of the team. 

• You have a strong understanding of power system protection principles, protection and control schemes, and power system studies using ETAP, SKM, RTDS, etc.    

• You are familiar with relevant industry standards, such as IEEE, IEC, and NERC/FERC regulations.    

• You have proven experience in designing and implementing protection and control schemes in a utility or industrial setting.    

• You demonstrate problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex power system protection challenges.    

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Take ownership of assigned responsibilities, seek feedback when needed, and follow through on project commitments. 

• Possess, understand, and apply the fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures of power system protection and related SEL products.  

• Train and assist customers in the design, configuration, validation, installation, commissioning, and operation of automation and/or protection systems.  

• Complete assigned work within the agreed-upon scope, schedule, and budget while maintaining a high level of quality and safety.  

• Participate in the preparation of functional design specifications.   

• Prepare and maintain detailed design documents, reports, checklists, test reports, and deliverables.  

• Follow and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.  

• Understand. Create. Simplify.  

• Other duties as assigned.  
   
  Required Qualifications  

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering or a relevant discipline  

• 3+ years of relevant experience with electric power systems, industry practices, and protection design practices and philosophies  

• Good knowledge of electric power system protection and control  

• Working knowledge of electric power system design, studies, information and communication technology, and protective relay applications  

• Willing to travel both domestically and internationally a minimum of 25% of the time, based on the area of focus  

• Professional Engineer License or equivalent certification  

• Industrial plant, consulting engineering, or system integrator experience  

• Project engineering experience  

• Programming, testing, and commissioning experience with protective relays 

• Experience developing ac/dc schematics, single line diagrams, and wiring diagrams for protection and control applications  

• Experience developing settings configuration files for SEL devices using AcSELerator QuickSet  

Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in the electrical power industry. Join Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and help shape the future of critical infrastructure!    

  Location Information: 

• Houston, TX-This position is in Houston, TX. Ranked America's fourth largest city, whatever your interest is you will find it here. Enjoy sports teams, world class dining, and first-rate entertainment. Enjoy signature Houston attractions like Space Center Houston and The Grand Opera. Escape the city with easy beach access just one hour away. Houston offers exceptional schools and universities, making it a great place to live and work. 

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.

New hires generally start between $110,000 - 175,000. We base our starting pay offer on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Our salary ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location.

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.