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Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Markham, IL

Train and qualify Relay Technician I, II, and junior engineers in protection and control practices. * Provide mentorship and technical leadership to field personnel. * Interface directly with ...

Invenergy is North America's largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power ... Knowledge of three-phase power systems, high voltage electrical equipment & relay protection

Electrical Engineer II

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $125K/yr

Invenergy is North America's largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power ... Knowledge of three-phase power systems, high voltage electrical equipment & relay protection

Electrical Engineer II

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105K - $125K/yr

Invenergy is North America's largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power ... Knowledge of three-phase power systems, high voltage electrical equipment & relay protection

Electrical Engineer II

Chicago, IL · On-site

$105 - $125/hr

Knowledge of three-phase power systems, high voltage electrical equipment & relay protection ... Invenergy is North America's largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power ...

Showing results 41-60

Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer information

See Markham, IL salary details

$11

$20

$35

How much do apprentice relay protection engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for apprentice relay protection engineer in Markham, IL is $20.85, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.39 and $22.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an apprentice relay protection engineer?

Apprentice Relay Protection Engineers are entry-level professionals who assist in the installation, testing, maintenance, and troubleshooting of protective relays and related equipment in electrical power systems. They typically work under the supervision of senior engineers as they learn the principles of power system protection and the operation of relays that help prevent damage to equipment during electrical faults. Their role is crucial in ensuring the safety and reliability of electrical grids, and they often work in utility companies or large industrial facilities. Apprenticeship in this field typically involves hands-on training as well as classroom instruction.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an apprentice relay protection engineer?

To thrive as an Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering principles, knowledge of power systems, and typically a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with protection relay testing equipment, SCADA systems, and industry standards such as IEEE is important, and relevant certifications like EIT (Engineer-in-Training) can be advantageous. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, effective communication, and a willingness to learn help you stand out in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial to ensure accurate system protection, maintain power grid reliability, and support safe, efficient project execution.

What are some typical challenges faced by apprentice relay protection engineers during their training period?

As an Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer, you may encounter challenges such as understanding complex relay schemes and adapting to the technical language used in the field. Staying up to date with frequent software and hardware updates, ensuring strict adherence to safety standards, and accurately interpreting protection diagrams can also be demanding. However, these challenges are usually addressed through hands-on mentorship, structured training programs, and collaborative teamwork with experienced engineers, which accelerates your learning and confidence.

What is the difference between Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer vs Relay Protection Engineer?

AspectApprentice Relay Protection EngineerRelay Protection Engineer
QualificationsBasic technical diploma or associate degree, on-the-job trainingBachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field, professional certifications
Work EnvironmentEntry-level, supervised, training-focusedMore independent, responsible for designing and maintaining protection systems
ResponsibilitiesAssisting in relay testing, learning system operationsDeveloping protection schemes, troubleshooting, system optimization

The main difference between an Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer and a Relay Protection Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and qualifications. Apprentices are in training, focusing on learning and assisting, while relay protection engineers are more experienced professionals responsible for system design and maintenance.

What cities near Markham, IL are hiring for Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer jobs?

Cities near Markham, IL with the most Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Apprentice Relay Protection Engineer job openings in Markham, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 74% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,373 per year, or $20.9 per hour.

Sr. Relay Technician

EPS

Willowbrook, IL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Sr. Relay Technician

About The Company: 

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering organization specializing in electrical acceptance testing, commissioning, and maintenance for clients across Data Centers, Utility, Generation, Renewables, Transit, Industrial and Commercial Facilities throughout North America. We are committed to safety, technical expertise, and setting the standard of excellence in the power industry.

Benefits:

  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
  • Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Perks:

  • Competitive Pay
  • Talent Development – Instructor-Led Technical Courses and Online Learning
  • Career Path Planning
  • Incentives for Professional Certifications
  • Competitive Per Diem for Travel
  • Referral Bonuses
  • Tuition Reimbursement

Position Summary:

The Senior Relay Technician serves as the technical lead for protection and control systems, responsible for advanced testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and full project execution. This role requires deep expertise in analyzing protection schemes, managing complex projects, and leading field teams while ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of substation and industrial (C&I) systems. The position also emphasizes customer interaction, team development, and technical leadership.


Safety Leadership

  • Lead job site safety briefings, proactively identifying, eliminating, or mitigating hazards.
  • Enforce company safety policies and champion a strong safety culture across all field activities.
  • Utilize Human Performance Error Reduction (HPE) tools to improve reliability and reduce risk.

Technical Expertise & Execution

  • Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components, including transmission, distribution, and industrial systems.
  • Perform installation, commissioning, testing, and functional testing of substation control circuits on relay panels, transformer change-outs, and circuit breaker replacements.
  • Execute advanced end-to-end and functional testing using automated relay test equipment and software.
  • Read, interpret, and validate protection and control schematics, logic diagrams, and system configurations.
  • Ensure proper calibration and performance of electromechanical and microprocessor-based relays.

Troubleshooting & Analysis

  • Perform complex troubleshooting of protection, control, and communication systems across a wide range of applications.
  • Analyze event records, oscillography, and system data to make informed deductions and determine system performance or misoperations.
  • Lead root cause analysis investigations for relay trips, failures, and system disturbances.

 Project Leadership & Planning

  • Develop project execution plans, commissioning procedures, outage sequences, and energization plans.
  • Project manage large-scale and complex commissioning, retrofit, and maintenance projects.
  • Coordinate resources, schedules, and field activities to ensure successful project completion.

Reporting & Deliverables

  • Develop, review, and finalize comprehensive reports, including test results, relay settings verification, and system performance.
  • Ensure completion of all project deliverables, including as-built drawings, relay settings validation, and commissioning documentation.
  • Ensure all documentation meets customer and industry standards.

Team Development & Customer Interface

  • Train and qualify Relay Technician I, II, and junior engineers in protection and control practices.
  • Provide mentorship and technical leadership to field personnel.
  • Interface directly with customers, utilities, and project stakeholders to communicate status, resolve issues, and meet expectations.

Required Skills/Abilities:  

  • Able to pass a pre-employment drug screen due to this being a safety sensitive position.

  • Complete a satisfactory criminal background check. 
  • Able to work overtime and travel out of town for periods of time. 
  • Must have a valid driver's license and currently have and be able to maintain a safe driving record. 
  • Hands on experience installing, maintaining, testing & repairing protective relays in transmission, generation, or distribution level substations. 
  • Capable of trouble shooting distribution and transmission controls circuits. 
  • Knowledge of relay test software. 

Preferred Skills/Abilities: 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Experience installing, maintaining, testing, or repairing circuit breakers, transformers, switchgear, or similar equipment.  

Education and Experience: 

  • Bachelor's or associate degree in electrical/Electronic technology, Military Experience, or 4-year Engineering Degree, preferred 
  • 5+ Years of Relevant Industry Experience 
  • NETA III/IV Certified, preferred 

Physical Requirements:  

  • Able to climb ladders, stand for extended periods, able to lift 70 lbs. 

EPS is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), political affiliation, military service, national origin, age or any other characteristics protected by state or federal laws. 

EPS does not work with individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies, and will not recognize claim to any unsolicited resumes or candidate information.

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