Contract Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Modesto, CA

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

We have a Lead Commissioning Engineer opportunity available in Modesto, CA. The Lead Commissioning/Testing Engineer will be responsible for testing/commissioning Transmission and Distribution substations additions or modifications are installed, function, and energized correctly. This position is responsible for leading the testing and commissioning of electrical equipment within and electrical substation or generator plant.  Performing and directing all aspects of electrical testing including, but not limited to, protection relays, circuit breakers, transformers and other substation equipment. Lead Engineer is responsible for training new engineers/technicians in relay testing, equipment testing and substation commissioning.

Major Responsibilities 

This position requires the Commissioning Engineer to provide testing and commissioning services along with engineering to the Utility Substation and Generation Stations. Responsibilities include:

• Review specifications and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of substation. Identify and resolve design errors
• Manage and schedule the installation and commissioning with subcontractors, personnel and customer in accordance with project requirements
• Provide safety analysis and proper equipment isolation procedure
• Provide a day-to-day outage plan for customers
• Develop detailed test procedures and sign-off sheet for each piece of equipment
• Monitor the construction and be available to address technical questions as they arise during construction, installation and testing
• Demonstrate ability to service newly designed and experimental equipment, which has not been seen before, and instill confidence in the customer
• Assist field crews and dispatch in developing switching to properly sequence in equipment, making sure proper hold points for testing are incorporated
• Directly witness or perform critical tests such as DC Functional Trip Testing prior to energization and in-service
• Direct crews as necessary during critical work junctures. This typically occurs during final commission, just prior and through initial energization.
• Acknowledge substation modification is complete and functional and formally turns it over to Dispatch to be operated within its design limits.
• Lead Commissioning Engineer is expected to support several capital projects occurring at the same time. As required, they rotate amongst the jobs, keeping abreast of the construction activities, reviewing test results and monitoring the work to anticipate any problems and gauge their level of involvement from a technical support perspective
• Near project completion, as the equipment is ready to have its control schemes functionally tested and the equipment energized, commissioning engineer will likely be required to work extended hours/days in a row at a particular job site
• Developing and maintaining strong working relationships with customers, demonstrates an awareness of customer needs, preferences, and time and financial constraints
• Proven customer service, sales ability, and ability to handle difficult customers and meet their satisfaction
• Supports the development of estimates for client proposals and further business development
• Ability to understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams and one-line drawings for the purpose of understanding system operation and developing testing requirements and procedures
• Develop standard testing documentation, training procedures and maintain all project documentation including certifications and calibration records. Candidate should be able to obtain NICET certification or equivalent
• Knowledge of programming and testing protection relays from GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, and ABB. Ability to develop programming macros for use in automated relay testing

Ideal Candidate Qualifications

• Proven ability to motivate, mentor, and optimize in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Goal oriented and focused
• Strong drive, energy, enthusiasm, and proactive style
• Experience managing technical projects of various sizes
• Excellent communication (written and oral) & interpersonal skills
• Excellent negotiation, influence, mediation & conflict management skills
• Proven ability with problem solving and decision making
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, & time-management skills
• Strong budget management skills
• Diverse skill set with the ability to work independently. Will act as technical lead on projects and guide less experienced engineers/technicians. May also act as Commissioning Engineer on projects

Job Requirements

Education A Bachelor’s degree in engineering (electrical, mechanical or engineering technology) from an accredited institution is preferred.

Experience A minimum of 8-20+ years testing & commissioning experience should include:

• In-depth understanding of three-phase power systems
• In-depth understating of protection and control schemes and implementation
• In-depth experience utilizing relay test sets with various relay vendors including SEL, GE, Beckwith, ABB, Basler, etc. and various manufacturers of electromechanical relays
• In-depth understanding of equipment testing - circuit breakers, transformers, circuit switchers, MOABS, CTs, PTs, batteries & chargers, transfer switches, line tuners, wave traps, carrier relays, etc.
• In-depth experience executing in-service power measurements (load checks)
• Experience leading crews to test and commission new and modified substations including equipment isolation/restoration and complex circuit cutovers being mindful to mitigate inadvertent operations
• Experience with rotating machinery, including generators and excitation systems
• Experience testing previously programmed RTUs locally and remotely to system operators
• Experience with SCADA, RTU, and DFR systems

Travel Ability to travel a minimum of 50%.

Driver’s License Must possess and maintain a valid and unrestricted driver’s license.

Physical Demands of Position Seeing, color perception, hearing, listening, clear speech, dexterity in hands, driving, lifting, climbing, ability to mount and dismount equipment, pushing, and pulling, warm and cold temperature conditions, sun exposure, moisture, potential exposure to hazardous materials and electrical voltages.

Working Conditions Standard office work, work-from-home, and in the field leadership: On site environment could require work in various temperature conditions; in and/or around moisture, on slippery and/or uneven surfaces, in confined spaces, and at heights; will require frequent standing, driving a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and occasional bending, squatting, climbing, twisting, balancing, and reaching; will have exposure to noise, vibrations and chemicals. May require irregular or extended hours, subject to being on call and travel for project completion.

*Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job.  They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Wunderlich-Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee-owner benefit package. Full-time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: Medical • Dental • Vision • Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D • Long Term Disability • Voluntary Short Term Disability • Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account • Paid Time Off (PTO) • Paid Holidays • Tuition Reimbursement • Referral Bonus Program • 401(k)/Profit Sharing • 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) • Employee Assistance Program • Will Preparation Resources • Worldwide Travel Assistance 

Salary Range The expected salary range is $140,000 - $185,000 annually depending on qualifications plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.

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