1

Contract Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Philadelphia, PA

Fire Protection Engineer

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$79K - $107K/yr

The Fire Protection Engineer provides design assistance to Fire Protection Engineer and other ... Prepare Fire Suppression and Fire Alarm contract documents for complex projects and support ...

Senior Relay Engineer

Conshohocken, PA · On-site

$102K - $141K/yr

The person in this role is responsible for designing electrical protective relay schemes and relay ... Review Engineering / Design packages for accuracy for both internal and external vendor / AE ...

Fire Protection EIT

Philadelphia, PA · On-site

$79K - $107K/yr

Our architects, engineers, interior designers, consultants, sustainability specialists, and ... contract document clarifications, construction progress inspections and acceptance testing.

Showing results 21-40

Contract Relay Protection Engineer information

See Philadelphia, PA salary details

$58.5K

$99.8K

$196.8K

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

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract relay protection engineer in Philadelphia, PA is $99,802.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,600.00 and $103,400.00 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 job categories do people searching Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA are:

What cities near Philadelphia, PA are hiring for Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs?

Cities near Philadelphia, PA with the most Contract Relay Protection Engineer job openings:

Fire Protection Engineer

EwingCole

Philadelphia, PA • On-site

$79K - $107K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
EwingCole is a nationally recognized architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm with offices across the country. Our multi-disciplinary practice is built on the core values of professional excellence, design quality and collaboration. We are looking for an Fire Protection Engineer to join our team in our Philadelphia office.
The Fire Protection Engineer provides design assistance to Fire Protection Engineer and other Project Engineers and Architects for life safety, fire protection systems design and code analysis.
Essential Functions
  • Prepare Code Studies for complex projects and support Project Architect (PA) performed Code Studies for other projects.
  • Prepare Life Safety Plans for complex projects and support Project Architect (PA) performed Life Safety Plans for other projects.
  • Prepare Fire Suppression and Fire Alarm contract documents for complex projects and support Plumbing and Electrical Engineers for other projects.
  • Assist with code reviews/interpretations.
  • Assist in site water supply analysis.
  • Assist Project Architect with egress, construction types, barrier selection and other building attributes.
  • Evaluate site water supplies for fire suppression systems design for complex projects.
  • In cooperation with Project Architect, meet with AHJs to review major code issues.
  • Integrate fire protection systems with architectural and engineering disciplines.
  • Sprinkler and Fire Alarm system shop drawing review.
  • Assist with performance and report on CFD fire modeling and Egress Modeling.
  • Lead meetings with clients, code officials, and other project stakeholders to negotiate/resolve fire protection and/or life safety code issues.
  • Travel regionally, nationally and internationally in support of project requirements.
  • Perform other duties as requested or required.

Requirements
Required Education and Experience
  • Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Engineering, Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering
  • Registered Professional Engineer in at least one state with suitable credentials for registration in other states
  • Experience in analysis and/or design of building fire safety systems
  • Experience in code consulting with ICC and NFPA 101
  • Demonstrated knowledge and design skills in suppression and detection
  • Working knowledge of relevant software, including Office Suite, FDS, Autocad/Revit
  • Experience with ICC (IBC, IFC) model building codes and NFPA 13, 72, etc.
  • Sprinkler design experience
  • Management knowledge and application
  • Technical knowledge and application
  • Computer analysis skills

Preferred Education and Experience
  • 5 to 10 years of related experience
  • Demonstrated knowledge of and/or experience with Building and Fire Codes
  • Prior use of CFD and Egress modeling (FDS, PyroSim, Pathfinder)
  • Smoke control design experience
  • Structural fire analysis experience

Benefits of Working at EwingCole
Generous paid time off, 401(k) plan with company match, tuition reimbursement, flexible/hybrid work options, paid parental leave, excellent insurance offerings including medical, dental, vision, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, identity protection and more.
EwingCole does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any resume submitted by an agency without a prior written agreement will be deemed the property of EwingCole and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired.
#LI-Hybrid