Freelance Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

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Are you in? Primary Purpose:

Sr Engineer - Transmission & Substation Protection Analysis will provide operational analysis and support to multiple areas for transmission, distribution, and substation automatic operations and for system faults. Provide operational analysis for abnormal transmission, distribution, and substation and associated equipment conditions. Analyze protection system failures including providing root causes and feedback to design engineering as required. Provide a single point of contact to operations, field testing group, and other engineering and field personnel for analysis of risk and prioritizing work related to operating equipment with degraded protection systems. Support power quality and claims investigations. Position may be required to work extended hours, including coverage during storms or other energy delivery emergencies.

Primary Duties:

• Provide fault location information on an immediate basis for all 69kV and above line automatic operations (trip and reclose or lockout), all critical 34kV line operations (eg airport lines), and 34kV line operations where load is down on an immediate basis. Fault location for trip and reclose of 34kV line operations is generally provided on the next business day.
• Provide guidance to transmission and distribution operations, field testing group, and others on system alarm conditions, degraded protection conditions, event analysis, etc.
• Review and analyze protective relay event records to determine fault type and protective relay performance. Provide recommendations and implements action plans to improve performance and cost effectiveness.
• Provide system event information to support power quality investigations related to customer complaints. Provide system event information to support claims department investigations.
• Utilize PI (SCADA Historian) to observe pre/post event system data and analyze events.
• From relay target data and equipment operations, evaluate protection and equipment performance for the event. Generate Corrective Maintenance (CM's) Work Requests to address identified abnormalities and where extended conditions identify a systematic problem, programs will be created to resolve the identified condition.
• Provide direction to Operations, T&S, and Asset Management areas based on the event analysis and areas to focus efforts.
• Perform CAPE/CYME fault studies to determine/confirm fault location as well as validate system model. Utilize the FALLS lightning service to validate lightning strikes in proximity to equipment and event times.
• From relay target data and equipment operations, evaluate protection and equipment performance for the event. Corrective Maintenance (CM's) Work Requests are generated to address identified abnormalities and where extended conditions identify a systematic problem; programs will be created to resolve the identified condition.
• Participate in technical and industry societies and committees to enhance knowledge of new technologies or issues in areas of company interest.

Job Scope:

• Influences project decisions having a significant impact on the company.
• Applies technical knowledge to help promote a safe work environment and to enhance customer satisfaction

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Licensed Professional Engineer (2) (3) Knowledge of engineering designs, principles and practices
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex electrical and mechanical systems.
• Knowledge and ability to apply problem solving approaches and engineering theory.
• Detailed knowledge of applicable standards, codes methods, and practices unique to areas of expertise.
• 7+ years of professional engineering experience (1) (3) (See Note 3. Thorough knowledge and experience in unique areas of engineering expertise.
• Ability to apply advanced engineering principles to identify and resolve complex issues.
• Minimum of three related career experiences (4) (i.e., changes in technical job responsibilities, which may or may not include a change in department) OR
• Lead Member of a recognized industry committee OR
• Professional Engineer's License (2), advanced technical degree, MBA or Project Management Certification (1) Master's degree in Engineering reduces the OJT experience requirement by 1 year. (2) License must be issued by the state in which you are practicing. (3) PE License reduces the OJT experience requirement by 1 year. (4) Career related experiences is defined as changes in technical job responsibilities and does not have to include a change in department.
• Note: Items (1) and (3) are mutually inclusive, whereby the maximum experience requirement reduction is one (1) year (e.g., in the case of an employee with both a master's degree in Engineering AND a PE license, the minimum experience requirement would be reduced by one (1) year).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree (1) or Graduate level work in Engineering, Business Administration or Project Management Certification
• Possess Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certification and/or Professional Engineer license (2) (3)
• Strong teamwork, interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate with all management levels.
• Strong written and oral communication/presentation skills, report generation & technical writing skills
• Advanced experience in utility infrastructure, such as system analysis, planning, design coordination, standards development, or project execution.
• A working knowledge of analysis software packages such as CYMDIST, PSS\E, Python, PLS-CAD, Pole Foreman, Power BI, or similar.

Benefits:

• Annual salary will vary based on a candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, and other factors: $103,200.00/Yr. – $141,900.00/Yr.
• Annual Bonus for eligible positions: 15%
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Generous paid time off options, including vacation, sick time, floating and fixed holidays, maternity leave and bonding/primary caregiver leave or parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program and resources for mental and emotional support
• Wellbeing programs such as tuition reimbursement, adoption and surrogacy assistance and fitness reimbursement
• Referral bonus program
• And much more

Note: Exelon-sponsored compensation and benefit programs may vary or not apply based on length of service, job grade, job classification or represented status. Eligibility will be determined by the written plan or program documents.