Internship Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Houston, TX

About Us:

Panelmatic, Inc. was founded in 1957 in Youngstown, OH to serve manufacturing industries with the design and build of custom electrical, instrument, and pneumatic control panels. Our business has sufficiently grown over the years to support expansion for our clients. We have produced control packages for many of America's top corporations in the chemical, environmental, food, pulp and paper, rubber, petroleum, pharmaceutical, glass, metals, and utilities industries. We also deliver equipment for use worldwide. Our rigorous methodology assures compliance with domestic and international standards. We can meet the needs of our diverse clientele from start to finish through sales, design, fabrication, testing, and delivery.

Since 1957, we have been known for our high-quality, custom-built control packages, our comprehensive service, and our technological and manufacturing expertise. This expertise assures you of our ability to handle the largest and most complex packages quickly and efficiently.

Job Summary:

Panelmatic is seeking an experienced Purchasing Manager – Switchgear & Relay Panels to lead the procurement of components, systems going into switchgear, relay panels, electrical assemblies, and critical electrical components supporting our growing project portfolio.

This role will own the supplier strategy, sourcing, purchasing, supplier performance, cost management, and material availability for switchgear and relay panel programs. The ideal candidate combines strong electrical-industry sourcing experience with the ability to manage complex engineered-to-order procurement in a high-growth manufacturing environment.

This is a highly visible role that will work closely with Engineering, Project Management, Operations, Quality, Planning, and Sales to ensure critical materials are available on time and at competitive cost.

Develop and execute procurement strategies for medium- and low-voltage switchgear, relay/protection panels, electrical assemblies, breakers, relays, controls, and associated components.

• Build and maintain a qualified supplier network capable of supporting Panelmatic's rapid growth.
• Identify alternate sources, suppliers, and technologies to reduce supply-chain risk.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, capacity commitments, and commercial agreements.
• Establish strategic relationships with key electrical equipment manufacturers, distributors, fabricators, and contract manufacturers.

• Own purchasing execution for assigned switchgear and relay panel projects from PO release through delivery.
• Review BOMs, drawings, specifications, and project requirements to identify procurement requirements and long-lead components.
• Ensure purchase orders accurately reflect engineering specifications, approved manufacturers, quantities, delivery requirements, and commercial terms.
• Proactively manage long-lead and critical-path materials.
• Partner with Planning and Project Management to develop and maintain realistic material delivery schedules.
• Expedite critical materials when required to protect customer commitments.

• Develop supplier scorecards covering quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, capacity, and technical capability.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and drive corrective actions.
• Support supplier qualification, audits, PPAP/FAI requirements, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Develop contingency plans for single-source and high-risk components.
• Work with Quality and Engineering to resolve supplier-related quality and technical issues.

• Establish should-cost and market benchmarks for major electrical components.
• Lead cost-reduction initiatives through negotiation, specification optimization, alternate sourcing, and supplier development.
• Track material cost against budgets and project estimates.
• Identify opportunities for volume leverage, standardization, blanket orders, and strategic agreements.
• Support annual budgeting and forecasting of material costs.

• Partner with Engineering to establish preferred manufacturers and approved vendor lists.
• Work with Planning to align procurement with production schedules and customer commitments.
• Partner with Operations to resolve material shortages and production constraints.
• Collaborate with Quality on supplier qualification and non-conformance resolution.
• Support Project Management with supplier lead-time and commercial information.
• Provide leadership with visibility into supplier capacity, shortages, cost trends, and procurement risks.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of purchasing/procurement experience, preferably within electrical equipment, switchgear, power distribution, industrial automation, or engineered-to-order manufacturing.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing electrical equipment and components.
• Strong understanding of switchgear, relay panels, electrical distribution, and power-system components.
• Experience negotiating with OEMs, electrical manufacturers, distributors, and contract manufacturers.
• Strong understanding of supplier lead times, capacity constraints, and engineered-to-order procurement.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• US work authorization without sponsorship required
• Ability to pass physical, drug, driving, and background check required
• Ability to physically push, pull, and lift 50lbs or more required
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for four plus hours at a time required
• Alignment with company core values required

• Experience with data center, utility, power generation, transmission, or distribution markets.
• Experience with Eaton, Schneider Electric, ABB, Siemens, Mitsubishi Electric, or comparable electrical OEM suppliers.
• Experience purchasing UL/CSA-certified electrical equipment and assemblies.
• Familiarity with UL 508A, NFPA 70/NEC, NEMA, IEEE, and utility specifications.
• Experience with supplier qualification, PPAP/FAI, quality systems, and corrective actions.
• Experience in a high-growth or private-equity-backed manufacturing environment.
• Experience implementing strategic sourcing programs and supplier scorecards.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, HSA, term life, AD&D, STD, LTD
• 100% medical premium paid for by Panelmatic for the employee-only level medical coverage
• 80% paid for by Panelmatic and 20% paid for by the employee on all other level medical coverage (ie employee plus child, employee plus spouse, family)
•  401(k) contributions matched 100% up to 4% 
• Scholarships, educational reimbursement, paid volunteerism, and paid personal and professional development provided
• PTO and paid holidays provided
• Career advancement opportunities
• Competitive wages

• Family-friendly environment with average employee tenure above five years