Freelance Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Whether you're a recent grad or a seasoned professional, you can experience meaningful career growth at Rosendin. Enjoy a true sense of ownership as you work with a proven industry leader on some of the most exciting and high-profile projects in the nation. We offer a wide range of job opportunities, competitive compensation, full benefits, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and more.

If you're looking to take your career to the next level and work with some of the best and brightest in the industry, we want to hear from you. Since our founding over 100+ years ago, Rosendin has been driven to positively impact the communities where we live and work. We are an organization built on integrity and we have a culture that empowers people, embraces diversity, and inspires everyone to do their best. As one of the largest EMPLOYEE-OWNED electrical contractors in the United States, you will have the unique benefit of being a shareholder at a company that is experiencing tremendous growth and success. When our people succeed and fuel our success, we reward them. We'd love to have you as a shareholder!

Power System Protection Engineer III is a senior-level engineering position responsible for performing protection studies and developing relay settings to support the implementation, commissioning, and testing of protection systems for electrical power networks. This role focuses on designing and applying protection strategies for medium and high-voltage systems serving mission critical, commercial, and industrial facilities. The position requires advanced technical expertise, the ability to work independently on complex protection challenges, and the capability to mentor and train other engineering staff.

• Design, specification, setting calculation, and coordination of protective relaying and relay control schemes.

• Develop protection schemes and relay settings for electrical equipment, including transformers, generators, transmission lines, feeders, and buses, in accordance with client requirements and system specifications.

• Develop and configure protection relay settings, including overcurrent, differential, distance and backup protection relays.

• Perform coordination studies to ensure proper relay operation and minimize system downtime during fault conditions.

• Use power system modeling tools (e.g. ETAP, SKM, CAPE, ASPEN) to simulate and analyze protection systems, fault scenarios, and equipment ratings.

• Conduct studies such as fault analysis, short circuit, AC and DC arc flash and harmonics studies.

• Support field testing, commissioning, and validation of protection relays and control systems to ensure proper operation and compliance with project requirements.

• Diagnose and troubleshoot relay protection issues, perform root cause analysis, and develop corrective actions for mis-operations or unexpected trips.

• Collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and clients to ensure the successful implementation of protection systems.

• Prepare technical documentation, including relay settings, test reports, system protection studies, and coordination diagrams.

• Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., IEEE, IEC, NEC, NFPA 70E, NERC).

• Act as a proactive technical leader, guiding project teams, solving complex protection challenges, and supporting project execution across all phases from design through commissioning.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a power systems focus.

• 6+ years relevant application experience in protection and relay settings for electric power systems supporting mission critical infrastructure, commercial and industrial facilities and substations.

• A U.S.-based Professional Engineer (PE) registration is required.

• High proficiency with power system modeling tools such as ETAP, SKM, ASPEN, and CAPE.

• Applied knowledge and experience of Power system Protection on: Overcurrent / Over-Undervoltage, Transformer Differential, High and Low Impedance Busbar Differential, Generator Protection, Motor Protection, and Medium/High Voltage Line Differential and Distance Protection.

• Strong experience developing protection schemes and relay settings for redundant power architectures supporting data centers and other mission critical facilities.

• High proficiency in relay settings development and programming for SEL, Siemens, and GE protective relays.

• Experience developing and managing relay settings files using vendor software such as SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, or equivalent.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical teams.

• Strong leadership, written and oral communication, and organizational skills.

• Strong computer skills with the ability to identify and apply appropriate software tools to support complex engineering analysis.

• Proven ability to manage

• Advanced experience using Mathcad and Microsoft Excel for developing protective setting calculation sheets.

• Working knowledge of NERC reliability standards, particularly PRC-019/023/024/025/026/027

• Experience with commonly utilized communication protocols (DNP, SEL, MMS, Modbus, etc).

• Working Knowledge of IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and its application in modern substations and mission critical facilities.

• Experience designing and supporting protection systems for redundant power topologies (e.g., N, N+1, 2N) common to data center electrical systems.

• Proven ability to lead small to mid-size projects, including management of schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical execution.

• Experience supporting proposal development including scope of work, level of work, engineering estimates, and schedule.

• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated interest in training and developing early career engineers.

• Demonstrated success managing complex protection engineering tasks within multidisciplinary, fast-paced project environments.

• Up to 50% (Does not include local field visits)

• General work environment - sitting for long periods, standing, walking, typing, carrying, pushing, bending. Work is conducted primarily indoors with varying environmental conditions, such as fluorescent lighting and air conditioning

• Noise level is usually low to medium

• Occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs.

• We fully comply with the ADA and applicable state law, including considering reasonable accommodation measures that may enable qualified disabled applicants and employees to perform essential functions.

• ESOP - Employee Stock Ownership

• 401K

• Annual bonus program based upon performance, profitability, and achievement

• 17 PTO days per year plus 10 paid holidays

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

• Term Life, AD&D Insurance, and Voluntary Life Insurance

• Disability Income Protection Insurance

• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Plans (Health and Dependent Care)

• Charitable Giving Match with our Rosendin Foundation

Our success is rooted in our people. We all come together around long-term vision and a sense of shared ownership. As a group, we do whatever it takes to ensure the success of our business...and your career.

Rosendin Electric is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.Employment decisions are considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.