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Contract Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Lockport, IL

Relay Settings EIT 2

Lisle, IL · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Sr. Relay Technician

Willowbrook, IL · On-site

$55 - $90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

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 ...

Relay Technician II

Willowbrook, IL

$40 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Perform installation, commissioning, testing and maintenance of protective relaying equipment.

Sr. Relay Technician

Willowbrook, IL · On-site

$55 - $90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

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 ...

Relay Technician II

Willowbrook, IL · On-site

$40 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Perform installation, commissioning, testing and maintenance of protective relaying equipment.

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design

Peotone, IL · On-site

$147K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design Position: Full-Time Location: Any (Florida and Illinois ... Support breaker, transformer, relay, and protection scheme selection and integration. * Ensure ...

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design

Monee, IL · On-site

$147K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design Position: Full-Time Location: Any (Florida and Illinois ... Support breaker, transformer, relay, and protection scheme selection and integration. * Ensure ...

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design

Chicago, IL · On-site

$147K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design Position: Full-Time Location: Any (Florida and Illinois ... Support breaker, transformer, relay, and protection scheme selection and integration. * Ensure ...

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design

Lisle, IL · On-site

$147K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design Position: Full-Time Location: Any (Florida and Illinois ... Support breaker, transformer, relay, and protection scheme selection and integration. * Ensure ...

Power Grid Automation Engineer III

Bolingbrook, IL · On-site

$95K - $125K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Technical lead and programmer for the integration of power grid automation solutions; managing ... Apply advanced product knowledge of relay protection, automation, and communication in power grid ...

Sr Engineer - T&S Relay Engineering

Oakbrook Terrace, IL · On-site

$103K - $142K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Equipment in scope for protection not only includes transformers, capacitor banks, buses, etc. but ... Lead Engineer for Project Design; Manage and Coordinate Databases; Contribute to Industry Working ...

Showing results 21-40

Contract Relay Protection Engineer information

See Lockport, IL salary details

$58.2K

$99.2K

$195.6K

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

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract relay protection engineer in Lockport, IL is $99,196.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,200.00 and $102,800.00 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 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 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 job categories do people searching Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Lockport, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Lockport, IL are:
What cities near Lockport, IL are hiring for Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs? Cities near Lockport, IL with the most Contract Relay Protection Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Contract Relay Protection Engineer job openings in Lockport, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $99,196 per year, or $47.7 per hour.

Senior Electrical Engineer - Power System Protection

Black & Veatch

Chicago, IL • On-site

$110K - $144K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 14 days ago


Black & Veatch rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

55th of 447 rated engineering


Job description

Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success.

As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.  

Company : Black & Veatch Corporation  

Req Id : 116358 

Opportunity Type : Staff 

Relocation eligible : Yes 

Full time/Part time : Full-Time  

Project Only Hire : No 

Visa Sponsorship Available: No 

Why Black & Veatch?

At Black & Veatch, you'll be part of work that matters-designing, creating, and building the infrastructure communities rely on every day, from concept through execution.

We care about how the work gets done as much as what we build. Safety is built into every decision, and people look out for each other-speaking up, collaborating, and doing the right thing because it affects real lives.

You'll work alongside teams solving complex challenges and turning ideas into solutions that perform in the real world-gaining hands-on experience across projects, technologies, and disciplines.

Ownership shows up in how we work. We take responsibility for outcomes, follow through on commitments, and take pride in what we deliver. As a 100% employee-owned company, employees share in the long-term success we build together.

With flexible ways of working and meaningful development opportunities, you'll build a career you can be proud to stand behind.

The Opportunity

Black & Veatch is seeking an experienced Senior Power System Protection Engineer with 11-15 years' of experience to join our Protective Relay Settings Team. The ideal candidate has extensive working experience and advanced knowledge of Protection & Control (P&C) design concepts, relay setting calculations / setting file development, relay manufacturer software platforms, and power system analysis & modeling software.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to: 

  • Function as a technical subject matter expert and specialist.
  • Develop protective setpoints per industry standards, best practices and client requirements.
  • Work with system modeling software programs (ASPEN, CAPE, CYME, ETAP, SKM).
  • Develop downloadable setpoint files on multiple propietary relay manufacturer software platforms (SEL AcSELerator Quickset, GE Enervista, etc.).
  • Develop and manipulate logic commonly utilized in protection and control schemes.

Multiple locations available! Please refer to job posting header for full list of eligible locations.

Key Responsibilities
  • Proactively provides guidance and direction on department design guides, standards, systems, applicable engineering codes and B&V policies. May own, maintain, update, or develop engineering standards and guides. Provide technical guidance to others regarding projects or disciplines.  
  • Applies knowledge and ensures compliance with B&V quality program. Establishes related processes, and promotes a culture that is conducive to quality. Supports continuous improvement, change management and risk management efforts.
  • Prepares a variety of complex engineering deliverables for multiple or mega projects.  Performs complex research and develops recommendations for equipment and/or materials selection. Oversees collection, assimilation, and management of data for engineering work.  
  • Prepares complex engineering calculations following standard methods and principles.  Manages assigned budget, schedule, and quality requirements. Develops and applies advanced engineering solutions to complex problems. Responsible for ensuring project teams delegate appropriate tasks to lower level team members to develop depth of project execution staff.  Reviews lower level engineering work or assignments. Is responsible for one or more of the following: leading production teams; coordinating multiple discipline activity; and serving as the responsible charge for projects. Establishes work plan to be applied to a given project.
  • Actively coordinates with all other internal/external team members on complex projects. Typically responsible for defining project schedules for single discipline or may have responsibility for multiple disciplines.
  • Responsible for determining identification of key client interests and drivers on projects. Communicates client interests and drivers to project team members and develops approaches to accommodate these concerns in the performance of the work on complex projects.
  • Works to identify future client needs and how to better position B&V for the future.    May offer other services to the client. Typically provides support to business development or pursuit activities.
  • Serves as the technical specialist in a broad area of specialization, or in a narrow but specialized field. Develops and applies advanced engineering concepts and approaches to unique engineering problems. Typically supports multiple projects on very complex technical challenges. Typical roles include being recognized as an industry expert, participating in professional societies by presenting papers, acting as a section lead for a large or complex specialty area, an engineering consultant for larger scale projects. May support the chief engineers or top engineering management, and is accountable for discipline-specific engineering processes. 
  • Typically oversees performance management, career planning, recognition, learning and development, and corrective actions. May participate in compensation management, succession planning, disciplinary actions, employee relations and workforce planning.   Actively mentors lower level and mid level professionals and identifies successors to train in the specifics of their role.
Management Responsibilities
Supervises work of others. Responsible for hiring, discipline, and pay administration of their subordinates.
Preferred Qualifications
  • 10-15years of experience in Transmission industry. 
  • Significant working experience with Protection & Control design concepts including one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring, etc. 
  • 10 years of extensive experience in development of protective relay settings (line, transformer, breaker, bus, etc.). 
  • Extensive experience with commonly utilized system modeling software programs (ASPEN, CAPE, CYME, ETAP, SKM, etc.). 
  • Advanced knowledge and application of the predominant protection schemes and philosophies which are encountered in Transmission, Distribution, and Renewable Collector Substations. 
  • Extensive experience with Mathcad and Excel software for protective setting calculations. 
  • Experience with commonly utilized communication protocols (DNP, SEL, MMS, Modbus, etc.). 
  • Experience with IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and its implementation. 
  • Advanced knowledge and application of NERC-PRC standards and other commonly utilized industry standards. 
  • Proven ability to independently develop written communication and to facilitate coordination with team members and clients. 
  • Proven ability to work cooperatively in a team environment. 
  • Proven ability to lead small projects including management of project schedules, budgets, and staffing. 
  • Extensive experience supporting proposal development- including, scope of work, level of work, engineering estimates, schedule. 
  • Strong leaderships skills, with desire to train and develop early career and/or inexperienced professionals. 
  • Extensive experience functioning in a QA/QC capacity. 
Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from either a recognized accredited program in their home country or the country in which the professional is practicing or equivalent experience in Engineering work.
  • Minimum of 11 years related work experience.
  • Holds an active engineering registration or licensure to support engineer of record (EOR) requirements for BV projects in applicable countries, and supports where necessary.
  • All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.
Certifications
  • Holds an active engineering registration or licensure to support engineer of record (EOR) requirements for BV projects in applicable countries, and supports where necessary.
Work Environment/Physical Demands
  • Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments. #LI-TF1
Compensation Transparency

In accordance with local requirements, the annual compensation ranges for this role are listed below by state or jurisdiction and reflect the applicable office location(s) within each. Final compensation is determined based on factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, internal alignment, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law.

  • State of California: 163,404 - 308,464
  • State of Colorado: 156,299 - 261,008
  • State of Illinois: 156,299 - 261,008
  • State of Massachusetts: 170,508 - 284,736
  • State of Minnesota: 149,195 - 249,144
Salary Plan
REG: Registered Engineering
Job Grade
017

Black & Veatch endeavors to make www.bv.com/careers accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process because of a disability, please contact the Employee Relations Department at +1-913-359-1622 or via our accommodations request form. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only; you may not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. General inquiries about the status of applications will not be returned.

Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.

Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.

To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.

A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company-matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre-taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance-based bonus program.

We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP-owned company. As employee-owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long-term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.

By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.

BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.

Notice to External Search Firms: Black & Veatch does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Black & Veatch Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.


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About Black & Veatch

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success. As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.

Industry

Civil engineering construction

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Overland Park, KS, US

Year founded

1915