1

Power System Protection Engineer Jobs in California

Power Systems Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

The Role As a Power Systems Engineer at K2, you'll develop and test the high-fidelity electrical ... Develop SPICE representations and models to evaluate power system parasitics, like battery ...

The Engineer will be the primary driver of power system modeling, simulation, and controls analysis ... Support hardware-in-the-loop and controller-in-the-loop testing for protection, plant control, EMS ...

Power Engineer

Ukiah, CA ยท On-site

$102K - $130K/yr

Perform system protection and coordination studies and review system protection equipment settings ... power engineering. * Assists in the preparation of the capital improvement plans and budget.

Senior Power System Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$115K - $150K/yr

Senior Power System Engineer Job location: Irvine, CA Job type: Full-time / Hybrid Overview ETAP, a member of Schneider Electrical Energy Management Software Division, is seeking a senior power ...

Power Systems Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$140K - $195K/yr

Provide power system expertise during system integration and performance testing Required Skills ... S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. ยง 1324b(a)(3) is ...

Provide power system expertise during system integration and performance testing Required Skills ... S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. A 1324b(a)(3) is ...

Power Systems Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$140K - $195K/yr

Provide power system expertise during system integration and performance testing Required Skills ... S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C. ยง 1324b(a)(3) is ...

Perform power system engineering assessments of electric power systems in the areas of proficiency of protection device coordination, short-circuit calculation, arc-flash hazard analysis, design ...

Fire Protection Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$89K - $120K/yr

Ultimately, our work will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society. We were ... Manage life safety and fire protection system inspection, testing, and maintenance programs.

Senior Power System Engineer

Irvine, CA ยท On-site

$115K - $150K/yr

Senior Power System Engineer Job location: Irvine, CA Job type: Full-time / Hybrid Overview ETAP, a member of Schneider Electrical Energy Management Software Division, is seeking a senior power ...

We tackle complex engineering design challenges through creativity, precision and cross-functional ... We are seeking a dedicated Power System Engineering Program manager to drive the development of ...

Power Systems Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Develop SPICE representations and models to evaluate power system parasitics, like battery ... S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected ...

Fire Protection Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$89K - $120K/yr

Ultimately, our work will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society. We were ... Manage life safety and fire protection system inspection, testing, and maintenance programs.

Power Systems Engineer

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Develop SPICE representations and models to evaluate power system parasitics, like battery ... S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected ...

Power Systems Engineer Location: Menlo Park, CA Duration: 12 months Duties ... Model system components including motors, solar cells, and batteries, predicting performance as a ...

Power Engineer - Electrical Safety Engineering Division Location: Irvine, CA Work schedule ... This role involves power system analysis, protection and coordination, quality assurance testing ...

Power Engineer - Electrical Safety Engineering Division Location: Irvine, CA Work schedule ... This role involves power system analysis, protection and coordination, quality assurance testing ...

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER I

Corona, CA ยท On-site

$76K - $94K/yr

Engineering Built on Utility Operations Experience CLPE is a high-growth electric utility solutions ... Gain and maintain intermediate knowledge of power system protection and relaying schemes for ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Power System Protection Engineer information

See California salary details

$55.3K

$116.2K

$177.1K

How much do power system protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for power system protection engineer in California is $116,160.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $96,700.00 and $132,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Power System Protection Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Power System Protection Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, power systems analysis, and relay coordination, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as ETAP, SEL AcSELerator, and knowledge of IEC and IEEE standards is crucial, along with relevant certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) licensure. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help engineers excel in diagnosing issues and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills are important to ensure reliable and safe operation of electrical grids, prevent outages, and maintain system integrity.

What are the most common challenges faced by Power System Protection Engineers in utility environments?

Power System Protection Engineers often encounter challenges such as integrating new protection technologies with existing infrastructure, managing the complexity of coordinating protection settings across multiple substations, and ensuring system reliability during maintenance or upgrades. They must also stay current with evolving industry standards and cybersecurity requirements. Collaboration with operations, maintenance, and IT teams is essential to address these challenges and maintain the integrity and safety of the power grid.

What is the difference between Power System Protection Engineer vs Power System Engineer?

AspectPower System Protection EngineerPower System Engineer
CertificationsPE, IEEE, or equivalentPE, IEEE, or equivalent
Work EnvironmentFocus on protection schemes, relay settings, and fault analysisDesign, analyze, and operate power systems broadly
Industry UsageSpecialized in protection systems within utilities and industrial plantsBroader power system design and operation roles

Power System Protection Engineers specialize in designing and maintaining protection schemes to ensure system safety, while Power System Engineers work on overall system design, analysis, and operation. Both roles require similar credentials and often work within the same industry, but their focus areas differ significantly.

What does a Power System Protection Engineer do?

A Power System Protection Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining systems that protect electrical power grids from faults and failures. Their work ensures the safe and reliable operation of electrical networks by detecting abnormal conditions, such as short circuits or overloads, and triggering protective devices like circuit breakers. They also analyze system performance, develop protection schemes, and coordinate with other engineers to minimize service disruptions. This role is crucial for preventing equipment damage, reducing downtime, and ensuring safety for both personnel and the public.
What are popular job titles related to Power System Protection Engineer jobs in California? For Power System Protection Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Power System Protection Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Power System Protection Engineer jobs in California are:
Infographic showing various Power System Protection Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 81% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,160 per year, or $55.8 per hour.

Power Systems Engineer

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$100K - $150K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

The Role

As a Power Systems Engineer at K2, you'll develop and test the high-fidelity electrical system models that ensure our high voltage, high power system behaves predictably and reliably. In this role you'll dive deep into the first principles of power systems, from creating full-fidelity SPICE models of power system parasitics and dynamics to validating and tuning these models against reality. Your work will guide key architectural decisions: how power flows through the spacecraft, how faults are isolated, how filters are sized for EMI compatibility, and how the system operates reliably through worst-case faults.ย ย If you enjoy handson investigation, and you want to influence the core architecture of nextgeneration spacecraft power systems,ย this is the place to be.

ย 
Responsibilitiesย 

  • Develop SPICE representations and models to evaluate power systemย parasitics,ย like batteryย impedance, harness reactance,ย and filtersย 
  • Plan and execute test campaigns toย validateย these models against realityย 
  • Code high-fidelity simulations of in-flight power and energy budgets ย 

Qualificationsย 

  • Bachelor's degree inย Electrical Engineering, Physics,ย or related disciplineย 
  • 1+ years working in Avionicsย Systems,ย Electrical Power Systems,ย Electricalย Hardwareย Design,ย or similar roleย 
  • Strong grasp of circuitย and basic energy/power balanceย fundamentalsย 

Nice to Haveย 

  • Strong capability to independently reason through designing for fault tolerance and reliabilityย 
  • Familiarity with failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA)ย 
  • Experience working withย LTSpiceย or similar SPICE simulatorย 
  • Experience writing software in Python,ย Rustย or other language for test automationย 
  • Ability to performย impedance measurements and loop gain measurementsย 
  • Experience constructing representative circuit models of electrical hardware system components, like batteries and harnessesย 

Compensation and Benefits:ย 

  • Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $150,000 + equity in the companyย 
  • Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limitedย to:ย knowledge and skills, education, and experience levelย 
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many otherย perksย 

About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022