1

Contract Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Hillside, IL

Leidos is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer (with expertise in Fire Life Safety) to join the National Airspace System Integration Support Contract (NISC) team. This role is for someone with ...

Be Seen First

Supervise, mentor, and train engineering staff in relay protection and control design as well as Substation physical design. * Identify and implement appropriate protection and control schemes for ...

GAI Consultants is seeking a Relay Settings Engineer (EIT 2) with protective relay experience for transmission and distribution systems. The successful candidate will work on various substation and ...

GAI Consultants is seeking a Relay Settings Engineer (EIT 2) with protective relay experience for transmission and distribution systems. The successful candidate will work on various substation and ...

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components. * Perform ...

Showing results 21-40

Contract Relay Protection Engineer information

See Hillside, IL salary details

$57K

$97.3K

$191.8K

How much do contract relay protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract relay protection engineer in Hillside, IL is $97,264.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $68,800.00 and $100,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract relay protection engineer?

Contract Relay Protection Engineers are specialized professionals who design, test, and maintain protective relay systems for electrical power networks on a contract basis. Their main role is to ensure the safety and reliability of electrical systems by preventing damage from faults such as short circuits or equipment failures. Working as contractors, they may serve utilities, industrial clients, or engineering firms for specific projects or periods of time. They are responsible for relay settings, system coordination, troubleshooting, and compliance with industry standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract relay protection engineer?

To thrive as a Contract Relay Protection Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, experience with power system protection, and typically a bachelor's degree in engineering or related field. Familiarity with relay coordination software (such as SEL, GE, or ABB), AutoCAD, and relevant protection standards (IEEE, NERC) is essential, and a Professional Engineer (PE) license is often preferred. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills for this role. These competencies ensure the reliable design, installation, and maintenance of protective relay systems that safeguard electrical grids and infrastructure.

What are some common challenges faced by contract relay protection engineers when working with different utility clients?

Contract Relay Protection Engineers often encounter varying design standards, documentation practices, and communication protocols when partnering with different utility clients. Adapting quickly to each client's specific requirements and ensuring compliance with their protection schemes can be challenging. Additionally, balancing multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining high-quality deliverables requires strong organizational skills. Effective collaboration with both in-house teams and client representatives is essential for successful project execution.

What is the difference between Contract Relay Protection Engineer vs Substation Engineer?

AspectContract Relay Protection EngineerSubstation Engineer
CertificationsRelay protection certifications, electrical engineering licensesElectrical engineering licenses, substation design certifications
Work EnvironmentField and project sites, electrical substations, power plantsSubstation facilities, project planning, and design offices
Employer & IndustryPower utilities, electrical contractors, energy companiesUtility companies, engineering firms, infrastructure developers

The Contract Relay Protection Engineer primarily focuses on designing, testing, and commissioning relay protection systems within electrical substations, ensuring system reliability. In contrast, a Substation Engineer oversees the overall design, construction, and maintenance of substations. Both roles require electrical engineering expertise and certifications, but their daily tasks and focus areas differ, with the relay protection engineer specializing in protection systems and the substation engineer managing broader substation operations.

What cities near Hillside, IL are hiring for Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs?

Cities near Hillside, IL with the most Contract Relay Protection Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Relay Protection Engineer job openings in Hillside, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,264 per year, or $46.8 per hour.

Fire Protection Engineer

Leidos

Chicago, IL

$73K - $132K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 9 days ago


Leidos rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 152 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

79th of 495 rated business services


Job description

Leidos is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer (with expertise in Fire Life Safety) to join the National Airspace System Integration Support Contract (NISC) team.

This role is for someone with experience in Fire Life Safety/Fire Protection With their PE or wanting to become a PE.

Are you an EIT working to become a licensed Professional Engineer (PE)?

We can help you obtain that goal.

The position will support numerous facets of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Fire Life Safety Program, FLS Guidance, policy development, and planning. You will assist the Environmental Occupational Safety and Health (EOSH) Services Group to support and improve Fire Life Safety program elements intended to protect employees and others in the workplace and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and FAA laws and regulations.

Remote position

Up to 50% travel within central US

Candidate is preferred to be located anywhere within the central area of the US

Specific subject areas where services are needed include program management, training, Condition Risk Assessments (CRA) and Stairwell Pressurization Engine Generator (EG) replacement.

Fire Protection Engineer Primary Responsibilities:

  • Assist with the development of FLS code and standards analyses.
  • Provide guidance on the applicability of codes and standards to FAA facilities, its mission, and specific technical items encountered.
  • Provide FLS guidance to the FAA on program and Agency initiatives where the FLS program is a stakeholder.
  • Develop technical guidance on issues related to design and construction.
  • Assist with the development of standard specifications for installations at FAA facilities.
  • Assist with FLS programmatic planning initiatives, prioritization, and consultation regarding program direction and goals.
  • Authoring white papers, proposals, and analysis papers on any of the items above for distribution to FLS stakeholders.

FLS Condition Risk Assessments (CRA):

  • Conduct comprehensive fire protection and life safety surveys of critical air traffic control facilities including airport traffic control towers (ATCT), terminal radar approach control (TRACON) facilities, in air route traffic control centers (ARTCC), and various other types of facilities supporting the FAA's air traffic control mission. The surveys require broad knowledge and experience in analyzing and evaluating these facilities against the applicable requirements of the International Building Code, NFPA 101, NFPA 13, NFPA 20, NFPA 72, NFPA 75, and other applicable codes, standards, and FAA orders.
  • Evaluate facility human element programs to address OSHA required Emergency Action Plans, Fire Prevention Plans, fire drills, and inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection and life safety systems.
  • Coordination of sites with customer on specific dates, locations, impacts to the facility, etc.
  • Develop and maintain a current schedule of CRA's at all times, with dates of visit, location, current status of CRA, team assigned, and other relevant information.
  • Provide additional CRA support as requested by AJW-23 Program Manager.

Fire Protection Engineer Basic Qualifications:

  • Relevant Bachelors' Degree and 4+ years relevant exempt experience or a relevant Masters' Degree and 2+ years relevant exempt experience.
  • Professional Engineer License or EIT certificate.
  • Strong working knowledge of applicable ICC and NFPA codes.
  • Past experience developing and/or providing holistic consultation on FLS programs.
  • Ability to produce FLS designs of a variety of critical FLS elements and be able to provide critical comments on FLS designs and installations.
  • Former experience in training FLS concepts and code application.
  • Ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with FAA National Airspace System facilities, FAA staffed or unstaffed facilities, or similar government installations.
  • Experience with 29 CFR 1960.20.
  • Specific experience with programs at Federal agencies is preferred, with FAA experience weighted heavily.
  • Former training on the use/maintenance of Fire Protection systems.

Targeted salary will be $110,000.00 - $124,550.00, based on experience.

NISC IV

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:July 28, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:Pay Range $73,450.00 - $132,775.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.


What Leidos employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Leidos logo

About Leidos

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community.

Industry

It services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Reston, VA, US

Social media