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Power System Protection Engineer Jobs in North Carolina

SE Engineering, PC

Power System Engineer II

Concord, NC · On-site

$83K - $101K/yr

SE Engineering, PC is a specialized power systems engineering firm trusted by industrial, healt ... Perform power system studies including short circuit, protective coordination, load flow, motor ...

SE Engineering, PC

Power System Engineer II

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$83K - $101K/yr

SE Engineering, PC is a specialized power systems engineering firm trusted by industrial, healt ... Perform power system studies including short circuit, protective coordination, load flow, motor ...

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All JobsPower System Protection Engineer JobsPower System Protection Engineer Jobs in North Carolina

Power System Protection Engineer information

See North Carolina salary details

$50.9K

$107K

$163.1K

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

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for power system protection engineer in North Carolina is $106,967.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $89,100.00 and $121,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a power system protection engineer?

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 are popular job titles related to Power System Protection Engineer jobs in North Carolina?

For Power System Protection Engineer jobs in North Carolina, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Power System Protection Engineer jobs in North Carolina look for?

The top searched job categories for Power System Protection Engineer jobs in North Carolina are:

Power System Protection Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Power System Protection Engineer job openings in North Carolina as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $106,967 per year, or $51.4 per hour.

Lead System Protection Engineer

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

Charlotte, NC • On-site

$145K - $185K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Performs system protection and communication design tasks for high voltage and EHV substation projects, including development of protection specifications, relay settings, system modeling, and coordination studies.

  • Coordinates and cross-checks design deliverables with other disciplines such as P&C drawings, SCADA packages, and vendor drawings to ensure consistency.

  • Provides technical support during equipment procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting, and reviews work for quality assurance.

Westwood Professional Services rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

103rd of 453 rated engineering

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Lead System Protection Engineer
Westwood Professional Services
Westwood Professional Services, Inc. is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Renewables Substation team. The Lead System Protection Engineer serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the development and QA/QC of the tasks enumerated below. The Lead System Protection Engineer reports directly to the Renewables Substation Engineering Manager - P&C and may have one or more direct reports. He/she will also work with other internal and external project stakeholders to ensure project milestones and expectations of contracted services are met. Westwood has a highly experienced and dynamic team of individuals dedicated to providing high-level professional services to our clients.
Responsibilities:
Performs all system protection and communication design aspects for high voltage (4kV - 230kV) and EHV (above 230kV) substation projects to include:
Development of:
  • Protection and Control Specifications
  • Relay Settings Calculations
  • System Modelling
    • Short Circuit
    • Coordination Studies
    • Arc Flash
  • Relay Settings Files
    • Set points
    • I/O mapping and Logic Functions
    • Communication Settings
  • Digital Fault Recorders
    • Points List and Trigger Values
    • Configuration Files

Coordination and Cross-Check with other disciplines for consistency in design:
  • P&C Drawing Packages
    • One-Lines, 3 Lines, AC/DC Schematics, I/O Tables, Vendor Drawings
  • SCADA Packages
    • Points Lists and Data Maps
    • SCADA and Communications Specification
    • SCADA and Communications Equipment and Programming

Technical Support:
  • Equipment Specification & Procurement Support
  • Construction Support (Remote)
    • Testing and Commissioning Support
    • Troubleshooting Assistance
    • Event Analysis

Other Expectations:
  • The person in this role will serve as the technical lead (SME) for all System Protection tasks and deliverables outlined above.
  • Mentoring and training less experienced professionals including top graduates entering the field of system protection.
  • Maintaining high-quality standards by ensuring team's adherence to QA/QC processes and providing feedback for continuous improvement.
  • Working on diverse projects for different clients, with different utility interconnections, in different areas of the country - with or without settings templates and/or standards.
  • Assisting with identification of key client interests and drivers and may determine the key clients in some instances.
  • Communicating client interests and drivers to project team members and developing approaches to accommodate these concerns in the performance of the work.
  • Attending regular meetings with management to advise on any risks, mitigants, process improvements, and/or team needs to maximize ROI for the group.
  • Attending all client technical review meetings.
  • Directing and assigning tasks to team members to support milestone deliverables for system protection / relay settings projects.
  • Reviewing work (QA/QC) performed by others.
  • Evaluating and improving the Westwood System Protection Standards and Best Practices philosophies on a regular and recurring basis.

Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized accredited program.
  • Minimum of 10 years related work experience in the field of high voltage substation design - System Protection and Relay Settings.
  • PE License in at least one state; multiple states preferred.
  • Proficient in use of ASPEN OneLiner, ETAP, PowerFactory, CYME Dist, or similar programs.
  • Strong familiarity with NERC PRC Requirements, including but not limited to:
    • PRC-019
    • PRC-024
    • PRC-025
    • PRC-027
    • PRC-028
    • PRC-029
    • PRC-030
  • Strong familiarity with the NEC and National Electrical Safety Code.
  • Good knowledge of industry and technology trends specific to substations.
  • Familiarity with SEL family of relays and associated software for programming and analysis.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with settings development and associated tasks for large scale, transmission interconnected Renewable Energy Generation Projects (Wind, Solar, BESS).
  • Experience with settings development and associated tasks for large scale Load Interconnections (Datacenters, for example).
  • Proficient with wind and solar farm SCADA and Network Requirements and associated designs.
  • Proficient in load flow and reactive compensation studies.
  • Working knowledge of scheduling and project controls processes.
  • Previous project team leadership experience.
  • Previous experience as a direct supervisor.

Preferred Interpersonal Skills:
  • Superior verbal and written communication skills.
  • Driven for results.
  • Decision quality.
  • Priority setting.
  • Planning.
  • Conflict management.
  • Informing.
  • Listening.
  • Dealing with ambiguity.
  • Customer focus.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)
At Westwood, our purpose is to create a better world for people through our work. We transform the energy grid, design resilient infrastructure, and develop communities that will flourish today and for future generations. With over 50 years of experience and a legacy of innovation, we stand at the forefront of our industry, dedicated to understanding the unique needs of the markets we serve.
Our approach revolves around people. We are committed to building a culture that attracts, retains, and develops high performers. Our team values relationships, innovation, dedication, initiative, and growth. We believe fostering a collaborative "One Team" mentality yields superior outcomes in everything we do.
We customize our technical capabilities and geographic reach to meet our clients where they are and help them realize their vision. We are partners in our clients' success, driving to provide solutions that make a lasting difference. Safety, sustainability, and operational excellence are not just facets of our work; they are intrinsic to our identity, guiding every decision we make.
We are deeply invested in the communities we serve. Through our projects and giving-back initiatives, we enrich the lives of those we serve, engage others within our industry, and create a lasting impact on communities around the world. To us, success transcends the completion of projects; it is reflected in the lives we have positively impacted by our work.
Join us in creating a better world.
In 2025, Westwood was recognized as #77 on the ENR Top 500 Design Firms. Additionally, Westwood was ranked #5 for ENR's Top Design Firm for Solar, #6 for Battery Storage, and #3 for Wind (2025). The firm consistently ranks on the industry's top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement in award-winning projects nationwide.
Westwood provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that diverse backgrounds strengthen our business. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Salary Description
$145,000 - $185,000

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