Lead System Protection Engineer 2 - Grid
$134,546–$205,557 year
HybridFarmington Hills, Michigan, United States
Job Summary
Lead system protection engineering efforts for high-voltage transmission and substation projects, including developing relay settings, protection philosophies, and performing short-circuit and relay coordination studies. Configure, set, and troubleshoot microprocessor-based protective relays using vendor software platforms while managing relay records and settings in utility databases. Support substation design teams by reviewing P&C schematics, wiring diagrams, and logic diagrams to provide requirements for CT/VT ratios and trip logic. Assist with commissioning and field energization by reviewing test plans and resolving protection issues during construction. Ensure all protection schemes comply with NERC PRC, IEEE, and ANSI standards. This role involves leading teams in applying automation and AI tools to improve engineering workflows and reduce rework.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program (or equivalent)
- 10 or more years of experience in system protection engineering for transmission and/or substation projects
- Significant hands-on responsibility for relay settings and protection studies
- Strong background in system protection and relay logic, including line, transformer, bus, breaker failure, and capacitor/reactor protection philosophies
- Proven experience performing fault studies and relay coordination using CAPE and/or ASPEN (or equivalent protection analysis tools)
- Proficiency with at least some of the following relay configuration and settings tools: SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista, Other major OEM relay software
- Experience working with Powerbase or similar relay/asset databases for managing settings and protection data
- Demonstrated ability to check and interpret P&C drawings: One-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and panel layouts
- Familiarity with applicable IEEE, ANSI, and NERC/PRC standards related to protection and control
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work directly with Utility clients, Equipment manufacturers, Construction and commissioning teams
- Proven experience leading portions of projects, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and meeting schedule and quality requirements
- Must be able to lift 50 lbs
Desired Qualifications
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or the ability to obtain a P.E. within a reasonable timeframe
- Experience with protection and control design and settings for a range of voltage levels (e.g., 69 kV–230 kV and above)
- Experience developing and reviewing P&C design documents in coordination with substation design teams
- Prior consulting and utility engineering experience supporting utility or ISO/RTO clients
- Experience supporting field commissioning, relay testing, and troubleshooting of in-service protection systems
- Familiarity with utility standards and practices for documentation, settings management, and change control
- Experience leading others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs
- Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked
- Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs
- Additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows
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