Freelance Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

Ramos CS, now a part of Colliers Engineering & Design, is actively hiring a Project Engineer (Transit Systems) to perform a wide variety of professional engineering work in a field setting on a transit capital program's Transit Power Substation System (TPSS) portfolio. The Project Engineer is directly responsible for field oversight of TPSS construction, installation, and commissioning activities, and reviews the work of Authority, State, and Contractors in accordance with the applicable Design Criteria Manual, Construction Manual, and all governing specifications. The Project Engineer reviews progress of the work to assure compliance with the contract documents. This will include progressive monitoring of materials, installation methods, equipment energization, and testing as well as inspection of the finished systems prior to acceptance. The Project Engineer assures appropriate measurement, payments are made as necessary, and all project documentation is completed in accordance with departmental policies and procedures. Additionally, the Project Engineer is responsible to proactively reviewing the contract documents to anticipate, identify, and/or prepare for any change orders needed to resolve conflicts and/or recommend improvements.

• Ensures safety of Authority employees, State employees, Contractor employees, as well as traveling public citizens by observing contractor's operations, energized systems conditions, and traffic conditions, making recommendations, and taking corrective action when necessary.
• Reviews contractor operations for compliance with OSHA regulations and Authority electrical safety requirements, including arc flash, lockout/tagout, and work-near-energized-equipment protocols.
• Performs field inspections of contractor's work to determine compliance with plans, specifications, special provisions, utility agreements, and TPSS systems integration requirements.
• Witnesses and documents equipment installation, cable terminations, grounding, relay settings verification, and commissioning activities for substation and traction power distribution scopes.
• Reviews and incorporates daily inspection reports from Field Inspectors in documenting the Contractor's activities; prepares daily reports on systems progress, equipment acceptance, and commissioning status.
• Provides direction to field staff to ensure complete, accurate and timely contract records pertaining to construction progress, job expenditures, budget programs, and work order balances, maintained in accordance with State and Federal regulations and laws.
• Confers with contractors regarding compliance with plans and quality of work on installation, energizing, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Supports review of relay coordination studies, protection settings, SCADA point-to-point testing, and factory and site acceptance tests.
• Calculates and documents field quantities for payment purposes.
• Documents as-built condition of constructed substation and systems facilities, including redline markups and coordination with configuration management.
• Monitors project schedule and budget for assigned TPSS scopes and reports as required to the TPSS Project Manager.
• Assists the Authority in the management of the project in such a manner as to maintain quality, schedule, and budget.
• Supports the TPSS Project Manager in preparation of contract change orders for making alterations, deviations, additions to or deletions from the plans and specifications to ensure proper completion or construction of the contract.
• Formulates, researches, and develops solutions for field conditions that necessitate a contract change order. This may include supporting any necessary engineering re-design work.
• Identifies the need for and prepares contract related documents for submission to the contractor.
• Reviews CPM schedules. Identifies and flags commissioning and integration risks to the TPSS Project Manager.
• Coordinates with signals, communications, track, and operations/maintenance disciplines to support overall system commissioning milestones.
• Completes a project daily diary of pertinent activities and discussions held regarding the progress of the contractor's work and interaction with the TPSS Project Manager.
• Supports the Authority in the resolution and response to contractor disputes in a timely manner as provided by the contract.
• Elevates to the TPSS Project Manager all disputes not resolved at the field level, if appropriate.
• Prepares draft claim documentation for the Authority's Vendor/Contract Management when required.
• Ensure conformance with all Program contract documents.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer is preferred. Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification acceptable in lieu of PE for this role. Washington PE preferred; out of state licenses may be considered on a case by case basis.
• Approximately 7+ years of field/construction experience on traction power / TPSS systems, including installation oversight, testing, and commissioning.
• Experience as a Project Engineer, Field Engineer, or Commissioning Engineer on transit or rail systems scopes.
• Ability to read, write and understand English for purposes of comprehending written job-related communications and verbal instructions and interactions.

Compensation: $130,000 to $165,000 per year (depending on qualifications)

Ramos Consulting Services, now a part of Colliers Engineering & Design, offers competitive benefits that support our employees in their life and career. This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to:

• Employer-Provided Healthcare: 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employee base plans. We also provide a 40% employer contribution toward dependent or family coverage plans.
• Paid Time Off: 120 hours of combined PTO and Sick Time annually, in addition to paid holidays.
• Retirement Planning: Participation in a 401(k) retirement plan with a generous company match of 50% on the first 6% of employee contributions.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax FSA/HSA options for medical, dental, and dependent care expenses to help manage out-of-pocket costs.
• Employee Wellness & Support: 100% employer-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing 24/7 confidential support for work-life balance, financial wellness, and emotional well-being.
• National Resources & Career Growth: As part of the Colliers Engineering & Design national platform, employees have access to expanded technical resources, mentorship, and diverse career development opportunities across the Western United States and beyond.