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Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer Jobs in Philadelphia, PA

Senior Relay Engineer

Conshohocken, PA · On-site

$102K - $141K/yr

Lead or support testing all aspects of protective relay and control schemes/panels in the ... Review Engineering / Design packages for accuracy for both internal and external vendor / AE ...

Showing results 21-40

Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer information

See Philadelphia, PA salary details

$15

$48

$133

How much do freelance relay protection control engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance relay protection control engineer in Philadelphia, PA is $48.14, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.52 and $62.36 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a freelance relay protection control engineer do?

A Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer specializes in designing, testing, and maintaining protection and control systems for electrical power networks. Their work ensures the reliability and safety of power systems by detecting faults and automatically isolating affected sections. As freelancers, they provide these services on a project basis to utilities, industrial clients, or engineering firms. This role often includes tasks such as relay settings calculations, system modeling, and troubleshooting relay malfunctions, either remotely or on-site.

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

To excel as a Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, expertise in power system protection, and experience with relay coordination and system analysis. Familiarity with industry-standard protective relay software (such as SEL, ABB, or GE relays), CAD tools, and relevant certifications like NETA or IEEE are typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you manage independent projects and collaborate with clients. These competencies ensure safe, reliable power system operation and successful project delivery in a technically demanding field.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance relay protection control engineers when working with multiple clients simultaneously?

Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineers often juggle projects for several clients at once, which can present challenges such as managing varying technical standards, coordinating schedules, and ensuring clear communication across different teams. Each client may use different relay platforms or require unique protection schemes, so adaptability and strong organizational skills are crucial. Additionally, freelancers must be proactive in clarifying project scopes and deadlines to avoid misunderstandings and ensure successful project delivery. Building strong relationships and maintaining transparent communication with clients can help overcome these challenges.

What is the difference between Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer vs Substation Automation Engineer?

AspectFreelance Relay Protection Control EngineerSubstation Automation Engineer
CredentialsRelevant electrical engineering certifications, relay protection trainingElectrical engineering degree, automation system certifications
Work EnvironmentProject-based, on-site at substations or remotelyDesign, implementation, and maintenance of automation systems in substations
Industry UsagePower utilities, electrical contractors, consulting firmsPower utilities, automation solution providers
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for roles in protection schemes and control systemsRelated to automation and control system integration

The Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer focuses on designing, testing, and implementing relay protection schemes, often working independently or on contract. In contrast, a Substation Automation Engineer specializes in integrating automation systems within substations to enhance operational efficiency. While both roles require electrical expertise and work within the power industry, their focus areas differ: protection vs. automation systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Relay Protection Control Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA?

The most popular types of Relay Protection Control Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA?

For Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer jobs in Philadelphia, PA look for?

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Freelance Relay Protection Control Engineer job openings in Philadelphia, PA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 73% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,132 per year, or $48.1 per hour.

Senior Relay Engineer

Kendall Group

Conshohocken, PA • On-site

$102K - $141K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

About The Kendall Group

The Kendall Group is comprised of eight divisions with 75+ locations in ten states. Combined, we serve the Electrical, Automation, Pipe, Valve, and Fitting products, Steam, Lighting, Industrial Controls, and Instrumentation Industries. The Kendall Group is a 100% employee-owned company. Kendall offers a great opportunity for a rewarding career.

Why The Kendall Group?

Our employee ownership model is the core of who we are. You will not only own part of the company, but you will own your future. At Kendall, you'll have opportunities to learn and grow while being coached and mentored along the way. We're that company where people stay! We're proud to say more than 60% of our associates have more than 5 years of tenure, and more than 40% have greater than 10 years. At Kendall, you will be valued and supported, your ideas will be heard, your voice will matter, and you'll work alongside incredible people who care about your success.

Role Summary: Reporting to the Engineering Manager, the Senior Relay Engineer is a key member of the Relay & Power Systems team. The person in this role is responsible for designing electrical protective relay schemes and relay/control panels for various utility and industrial applications. This position will offer developmental opportunities.

Exciting work you will do:

The essential duties and responsibilities of a Senior Relay Engineer will consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Create construction package design-basis drawings including (relay single lines / 3 lines, schematics, logic diagrams, physical layouts, etc.) from customer specifications
  • Develop the Bill of Material for projects
  • Develop technical proposals including cost estimates; this may involve site walk downs and visits to customer's locations
  • Develop and or modify control house general arrangements
  • Develop and administer functional acceptance test plans and procedures to ensure the quality of manufactured and integrated building and relay panel systems
  • Lead a project team as the Lead Responsible Engineer, or Project Manager for a small project
  • Lead or support the design, settings and functionality development of protective relays and relay/control panels, maintain accurate documentation for all protection, control, and SCADA configurations.
  • Lead or support testing all aspects of protective relay and control schemes/panels in the production facility, including the operation and manipulation of test equipment, and, if required, at the customer site
  • Review Engineering / Design packages for accuracy for both internal and external vendor / AE designs
  • Attend, participate, and report on all formal and informal training assignments
  • Other duties as assigned

Competencies you possess:

  • Service Excellence
  • Results, Action Oriented
  • Accountability and Responsibility
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Decision Quality
  • Displaying Technical Expertise
  • Planning and organizing

What you'll need:

  • Work Experience: 5 years' of Relay and engineering experience; experience leading teams and/or project management experience
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (preferably in Power or Protection/Controls)
  • Analytics/Computer Skills: Proficient with Microsoft Office products (e.g. Word, Excel, etc.); Proficient with the content of all standard substation electrical protection and control drawings and configuration documents; Experience with the following:
    • Microprocessor relays, devices, and controllers, including their programming, testing, and interfacing with other protection and control equipment (SEL AcSELerator Quickset, GE Enervista, Easergy etc.)
    • Coordination and fault study tools, software, and methodology
    • Standard high voltage substation equipment and low voltage auxiliary equipment
    • Thorough understanding of communication protocols: DNP3, IEC 61850, MMS, GOOSE, SV
  • Organizational Skills: Highly organized and detail-oriented; ability to multi-task and shift priorities as needed; ability to work in fast-paced, continuously evolving, and at times ambiguous environment.
  • Cross-functional skills: Ability to work well cross-functionally; provides excellent internal and external customer service; self-motivated to learn new technologies and accomplish tasks when due; Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment; strong presentation skills
  • Troubleshooting skills in protection and control, automation, HMI, or relay networks
  • Communication Skills: Strong oral and written communication skills; strong presentation skills
  • Physical, Mental and Visual Skills: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disability to perform the essential functions.
    • Ability to see, talk and hear
    • Ability to sit for 8 hours a day
  • Physical Environment: Normal office environment; warehouse, shop environment and exposure to moving equipment. Work conditions at customer sites vary from indoor to outdoor industrial & electric utility facilities that may have high voltage equipment.
  • Travel: Occasional travel to customer sites, vendors, or training sessions
Qualifications we prefer but don't require:
  • Education: Master's degree in electrical engineering; Completed 3 CEU's of formal Protective Relay application course work; Electrical Field engineering experience in an industrial or utility environment; Professional Engineering License or FE (Fundamentals of Engineering). Proficiency with ETAP, SKM , Experience performing Arc Flash Studies

The Kendall Group is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, military status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.