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Freelance Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Illinois

Senior Substation Engineer

Oak Brook, IL ยท On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lead overall protection design for all capital projects and define relay protection functionality ... Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a strong background and knowledge of all ...

Engineer

Springfield, IL ยท On-site

$75K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

... relay protection, and electric operations. * Support capital improvement projects including project development, design review, construction support, testing, and commissioning. * Assist with system ...

Relay Settings EIT 2

Lisle, IL ยท On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

GAI Consultants is seeking a Relay Settings Engineer (EIT 2) with protective relay experience for transmission and distribution systems. The successful candidate will work on various substation and ...

Relay Settings EIT 2

Lisle, IL ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

GAI Consultants is seeking a Relay Settings Engineer (EIT 2) with protective relay experience for transmission and distribution systems. The successful candidate will work on various substation and ...

Sr. Relay Technician

Willowbrook, IL ยท On-site

$55 - $90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components. * Perform ...

Relay Technician II

Willowbrook, IL ยท On-site

$40 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Perform installation, commissioning, testing and maintenance of protective relaying equipment.

Sr. Relay Technician

Willowbrook, IL ยท On-site

$55 - $90/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components. * Perform ...

Relay Technician II

Willowbrook, IL ยท On-site

$40 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Perform installation, commissioning, testing and maintenance of protective relaying equipment.

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design

Monee, IL

$147K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

Electrical Engineer - Substation Design Position: Full-Time Location: Any (Florida and Illinois ... Support breaker, transformer, relay, and protection scheme selection and integration. * Ensure ...

Showing results 21-40

Freelance Relay Protection Engineer information

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

Freelance Relay Protection Engineers often work with diverse clients, each with unique equipment, standards, and expectations. One common challenge is quickly adapting to different protection schemes and relay technologies used by various utilities or industrial facilities. Additionally, freelancers must efficiently manage their time and communication across multiple projects to meet deadlines and maintain quality. Building strong relationships and staying updated on industry standards are essential for overcoming these hurdles and ensuring client satisfaction.

What does a freelance relay protection engineer do?

A Freelance Relay Protection Engineer is a specialist who designs, tests, and maintains systems that protect electrical power systems from faults by ensuring relays and protection schemes operate correctly. They work independently or on a contract basis for utilities, industrial clients, or engineering firms, often performing studies, field testing, and commissioning of protective relays and associated equipment. Their responsibilities often include analyzing system data, troubleshooting protection issues, and helping to ensure the safety and reliability of electrical grids.

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

AspectFreelance Relay Protection EngineerSubstation Protection Engineer
CredentialsRelevant certifications in relay protection, electrical engineeringSimilar certifications, often with additional substation-specific training
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based, often remote or on-site at various locationsTypically on-site at substations, working within utility or power companies
Employer & IndustryFreelance/contract basis, consulting firms, power utilitiesPower utilities, electrical engineering firms, substation operators

Freelance Relay Protection Engineers and Substation Protection Engineers share similar technical skills and certifications. However, freelance engineers work independently on various projects, often remotely, while substation protection engineers are employed directly by utilities or companies working on-site at substations. Both roles focus on relay protection systems but differ mainly in employment type and work environment.

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

A Freelance Relay Protection Engineer requires strong knowledge of power system protection principles, relay coordination, and a relevant electrical engineering degree. Expertise in industry-standard software (like ETAP, SEL acSELerator, or PSCAD), as well as familiarity with protective relay hardware and applicable standards (such as IEEE or IEC), is typically necessary. Excellent problem-solving, analytical thinking, and communication skills help in managing projects independently and collaborating with clients or utilities. These competencies ensure accurate system protection, reliable project delivery, and compliance with critical safety and operational standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Illinois?

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

What job categories do people searching Freelance Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Freelance Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Freelance Relay Protection Engineer jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Freelance Relay Protection Engineer job openings:

Senior Substation Engineer

K&A Engineering Consulting

Oak Brook, IL โ€ข On-site

$100K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


Job description

K&A Power Group - is a privately held company, providing comprehensive consulting, engineering and design, program/project management, construction management, and support services to power utility and industrial clients. Specializing in substation, transmission, distribution, distributed energy resources, and EPC services, we excel in solving complex challenges with precision-driven solutions. We pride ourselves on employing top talent, fostering a culture of excellence, and building meaningful relationships with clients and employees.
Powered By Innovation, Passion, And Purpose.
Start your K&A Career:
We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Senior Substation Engineer to join our team at K&A Engineering in Oakbrook, IL. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work on exciting and challenging projects that make a real impact in the energy and utility sectors. You'll be part of a dynamic, people-focused team where your expertise, ideas, and contributions will be valued and celebrated.
Role Expectations:
  • Perform detailed review of all existing protection schemes present in the subject area to incorporate into new design. Special areas of focus are anti-islanding schemes, generator intertie settings, SPS schemes, etc. (anything outside of normal). Basically, the goal is to ensure that we don't remove required protections already in place or at least be aware of how things work today before we modify existing schemes.
  • Lead overall protection design for all capital projects and define relay protection functionality/scheme in accordance with client standards
  • Review contractor provided relay settings, logic diagrams (including Goose messaging diagrams), and operational descriptions for all capital projects
  • Review/perform area relay coordination and determine what level of area coordination is required/needed (based on changes in fault duty and overall system performance due to the project changes)
  • Review contractor provided relay settings for all temporary builds and construction sequence steps including mobile settings
  • Review/provide input to Customer's Aspen model changes as required for individual capital projects
  • Provide design support during implementation/testing and commissioning of the above the items
  • Provide feedback to Customer on existing TM standards and help refine the Customer's design practices
  • Ensure all as-built documentation gets filed appropriately in the plant filing location at Customer
  • Lead overall automation and integration design for all capital projects
  • Review/design SCADA point indexes
  • Review contractor provided HMI screens/settings for all capital projects
  • Review/design Protection settings and settings basis
  • Review/design IED Data Maps
  • Review/create substation level operational descriptions (HMI operation, relay front panel operation, etc.)
  • Review automated maintenance data gathering (Digital Substation Data) point lists
  • Track all required licenses/firewalls and key automation and integration deliverables needed for project implementation
  • Provide design support during implementation/testing and commissioning of the above items
  • Perform constructability review and ensure adequate automation and integration coverage is available for each outage step (SCADA etc.)

What we're looking for:
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a strong background and knowledge of all utilities engineering disciplines
  • 6+ years or more of relay/protection settings engineering experience
  • Proficient in Microsoft Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
  • Proven experience in Substation Design should include general arrangement, electrical equipment plans, elevation and section views, Equipment cable trays, cable design, conduit fill calcs, rigid bus calcs
  • Professional level skills in MicroStation, AutoCAD
  • PE requested

Pay Range $100,000-$130,000/annually
Why Join K&A?
People-First Culture:
We put our people at the center of everything we do, creating an environment where your professional and personal growth is a top priority.
Innovation & Learning:We encourage continuous learning and invest in your development through training, mentorship, and hands-on experience.
Collaborative Team Environment: We believe in the power of collaboration and working together to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and employees.
Recognition & Growth: We've earned our reputation through uncompromising precision and a commitment to excellence. As an agile and fast-growing company, we offer plenty of opportunities for your career advancement and growth.
Competitive Compensation & Benefits:We offeracomprehensive benefits package for eligible classified employees, including but not limited to:
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care Spending Account
  • 401K (Traditional and Roth with Company Match)
  • Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA)
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Paid Holidays and Flexible PTO
  • Tuition Reimbursement, Parking and Transit Reimbursement, and Pet Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability, Short-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
  • EAP (Employee Assistance Program)

Check out our career page for more information!
The salary range for this role considers a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to technical ability, experience and training, licenses and certifications, and other related skillsets. The disclosed range is an estimate and has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.