Freelance Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Arizona

POSITION SUMMARY

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead development and application of the protection and control philosophy for renewable plants, MV/HV collector systems, substations, and gen‑tie lines, including grounding and lightning protection interfaces.
• Oversee P&C design deliverables (ex: SLDs/three‑lines, AC/DC schematics, P&C schematics, wiring/logic diagrams, panel layouts, I/O lists, cable/conduit schedules) produced by internal teams and external EORs.
• Direct or review protection and controls schemes and relay settings (e.g., SEL, GE, Siemens/Schneider), including trip logic, coordination, metering, alarming, SCADA points lists, and RTU/PLC/RTAC logic.
• Plan, coordinate, and review power system studies that support P&C and interconnection (short-circuit, protection coordination, arc flash, grounding grid, and where applicable EMT/PSCAD, ETAP, and ASPEN OneLiner studies), leveraging internal and partner resources.‑circuit, protection coordination, arc‑flash, grounding grid, and where applicable EMT/PSCAD, ETAP, and ASPEN OneLiner studies), leveraging internal and partner resources. 
• Ensure designs, studies, and settings comply with applicable codes and standards (NEC, NESC, IEEE/IEC, NFPA 70E), utility/ISO interconnection requirements, and project specific NERC PRC/modeling expectations where in scope.‑specific NERC PRC/modeling expectations where in scope. 
• Establish and enforce QA/QC procedures for P&C designs, models, and relay settings, including structured peer review, version control, and as-built documentation.‑built documentation. 
• Lead technical coordination with utilities, ISOs/RTOs, owners, inverter/BESS vendors, and SCADA/telecom teams on protection schemes, ride through and reactive requirements, metering, communications, and OT network topology.‑through and reactive requirements, metering, communications, and OT network topology. 
• Support pursuits, estimating, and preconstruction by defining P&C scope, staffing and study assumptions, key risks, and design/study milestones.
• Provide field engineering and commissioning support, including energization plans, relay/FAT/SAT review, setting management, and troubleshooting of P&C, SCADA, and communication issues.
• Hire, mentor, and develop P&C and substation engineers; set expectations for technical depth (e.g., PSCAD/ASPEN/ETAP, grounding, NERC awareness), quality, and schedule performance.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (power systems focus preferred) or closely related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of power systems engineering experience, including a minimum of 3 years focused on MV/HV protection and control for utility, industrial, or generation/substation projects.
• Demonstrated experience delivering P&C designs for HV/MV substations and collector systems (one lines/threelines, P&C schematics, panel layouts).‑lines/three‑lines, P&C schematics, panel layouts). 
• Strong working knowledge of protection applications for transformers, lines, buses, feeders, and breaker failure schemes, including relay settings review.
• Experience with at least one major relay platform (e.g., SEL, GE, Schneider) and common communication/SCADA protocols (e.g., IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus).
• Proficiency with power system analysis tools (e.g., ASPEN, CAPE, ETAP, SKM or similar) for short circuit and protection coordination studies. ‑circuit and protection coordination studies. 
• Familiarity with NEC, NESC, IEEE standards, and typical utility interconnection requirements for renewable generation.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor engineers and communicate clearly with technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

• Direct experience with P&C for utility scale solar, and BESS projects, including inverter based resources and plant level controls. Scale solar based resources and plant level controls.‑scale solar,‑based resources and plant‑level controls. 
• Experience in an EPC, owner’s engineer, or utility environment leading multidiscipline design or serving as a P&C subject matter expert. Engineer, or utility environment leading multidiscipline design or serving as a P&C subject matter expert.‑engineer, or utility environment leading multi‑discipline design or serving as a P&C subject matter expert. 
• Working knowledge of NERC PRC and related reliability considerations for protection and control (where applicable to project scope).
• Licensed Professional Engineer (PE), Electrical, or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe; multi‑state registration a plus.
• Experience supporting or overseeing FAT/SAT and field testing with NETA or other testing organizations.

McCarthy is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veteran status.
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