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Contract Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Smithfield, PA

Hatch

Area Contracts Lead

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$82K - $110K/yr

The Site Contract Administration Manager is involved in a project from the post award phase up to ... engineering, construction management and contractors during construction phase. The Site Contracts ...

Hatch

Area Contracts Lead

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$82K - $110K/yr

The Site Contract Administration Manager is involved in a project from the post award phase up to ... engineering, construction management and contractors during construction phase. The Site Contracts ...

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All JobsContract Relay Protection Engineer JobsContract Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Smithfield, PA

Contract Relay Protection Engineer information

See Smithfield, PA salary details

$59.1K

$100.7K

$198.6K

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 Smithfield, PA is $100,705.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $71,300.00 and $104,400.00 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 cities near Smithfield, PA are hiring for Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs?

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

Contract Relay Protection Engineer jobs near you

Sr. Consultant - Protection and Controls Engineer

EN Engineering LLC

Washington, PA • On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Full-time, Part-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Join a team at the forefront of power system protection and reliability. We are seeking an experienced Protection & Control Engineer to play a critical role in the design, analysis, and modernization of transmission and distribution protection systems. We are open to part-time and full-time employees for these positions. This is an opportunity to work on complex, high‑impact utility projects using state‑of‑the‑art protective relaying, communications, and substation automation technologies, while collaborating with highly skilled engineers and utility clients. If you’re driven by solving challenging technical problems, influencing system reliability, and leading work that truly matters to the grid, this role offers the technical depth, responsibility, and growth you’re looking for.

What You’ll Do:

  • Knowledge of NERC and NPCC protection and control standards.
  • Expertise in protective relay and control system design, relay settings, logic development, and event analysis for transmission and distribution substations.
  • Understanding of relay communications theory, testing methods, and communications network maintenance.
  • Ability to model primary and secondary systems using power system simulation tools (e.g., CAPE, ASPEN).
  • Experience with IEC 61850 substation automation architecture, logic, and protocols (preferred).
  • Proficient in developing technical specifications for protection, communications equipment, and instrument transformers, and evaluating vendor bids.
  • Perform system disturbance analysis and recommend protective relaying modifications or enhancements.
  • Review and optimize relay settings to ensure proper coordination and document protection system improvements.
  • Interface with manufacturers, professional organizations, and standards bodies (e.g., NPCC, IEEE).
  • Design protective relaying systems using PLC, leased lines, microwave, and fiber‑optic communications.
  • Utilize digital fault recorders and sequence‑of‑event recorders for advanced system monitoring and analysis.
  • Conduct short‑circuit studies and complex calculations to establish relay settings using advanced analysis software.

Required Qualifications:

  • BS Electrical Engineering or related field
  • 10+ years of related Protection and Controls experience
  • Experience with IEC 61850
  • Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of the year

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Professional Engineering License
  • MS Electrical Engineering or MBA

Not quite right for you? For a full listing of all our openings, please visit us at: https://entrustsol.com/careers/

Who We Are:

ENTRUST Solutions Group, an ENR Top 100 company, is a community of people, 3,000+ strong, who are committed to our clients and each other. We provide comprehensive and dependable engineering, consulting, and automation services to gas and electric utilities, telecommunication service providers, pipeline operators, and industrial companies.

In return for top talent, ENTRUST Solutions Group offers:

  • Generous paid time off and benefits
  • 401(k) retirement program with a company match
  • Career development programs
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Flexible work schedule

To learn more about ENTRUST Benefits and Culture, please visit our company LinkedIn page and follow us at:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/entrustsolutionsgroup

  • Benefits & Salary: This position pays between $125,000 and $165,000 annually and is an exempt position.
  • Benefits offered include company sponsored medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) plan with company match. Also offered are tuition reimbursement, voluntary life, disability, critical illness, accident and hospitalization plans. HSA or FSA medical accounts and FSA dependent care and transportation/parking accounts are also available. These benefits are subject to employee contribution amounts generally set annually.
  • Full time employees are eligible to earn PTO hours.
  • May be eligible for discretionary bonus as determined by the company.

ENTRUST Solutions Group is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. ENTRUST Solutions Group does not accept unsolicited headhunter or agency resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with ENTRUST Solutions Group.

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