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Power System Protection Relay Engineer Jobs in Virginia

NRTC

Power Systems Advisory Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site +1

Execute and/or review distribution planning and power system studies, including protection and ... Provide owner's engineer support on select projects, including design and study reviews, validation ...

Voltyx Energy Solutions

Relay Technician I

Richmond, VA · On-site

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Hands on experience installing, maintaining, testing & repairing protective relays in transmission ...

EPS

Relay Technician I

Richmond, VA · On-site

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Develop relay macros and testing routines with confirmation of proper protection and control design ...

EPS

Relay Technician I

Richmond, VA · On-site

Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering ... Develop relay macros and testing routines with confirmation of proper protection and control design ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

VA · On-site

Perform acceptance and maintenance testing of electrical power systems, ensuring compliance with NETA standards * Conduct protective relay testing, calibration, and programming for various ...

M.C. Dean, Inc

VA · On-site

$39.30 - $62.88/hr

Perform acceptance and maintenance testing of electrical power systems, ensuring compliance with NETA standards * Conduct protective relay testing, calibration, and programming for various ...

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All JobsPower System Protection Relay Engineer JobsPower System Protection Relay Engineer Jobs in Virginia

Power System Protection Relay Engineer information

See Virginia salary details

$55.5K

$116.7K

$178K

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

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for power system protection relay engineer in Virginia is $116,692.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $97,200.00 and $132,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a power system protection relay engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Power System Protection Relay Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, with expertise in power systems and relay protection principles, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard protection relays (e.g., SEL, ABB, GE), relay coordination software, and relevant standards (such as IEEE and NERC) is essential, along with certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) being advantageous. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are critical for ensuring system reliability, minimizing outages, and safeguarding equipment and personnel in complex electrical networks.

What are some common challenges faced by power system protection relay engineers in the field?

Power System Protection Relay Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating protection schemes across complex power grids, ensuring reliable relay settings, and adapting to rapidly evolving technologies. They must troubleshoot and resolve relay misoperations, often under time-sensitive conditions to minimize system downtime. Additionally, keeping up with industry standards and maintaining clear communication with operations, maintenance, and planning teams are essential for effective system protection and safety.

What does a power system protection relay engineer do?

A Power System Protection Relay Engineer is responsible for designing, installing, testing, and maintaining the protective relays and systems that safeguard electrical power grids and equipment. They ensure that faults or abnormal conditions are quickly detected and isolated to prevent damage and maintain system stability. Their work involves analyzing power system behavior, programming relay settings, conducting system studies, and troubleshooting issues to ensure reliable and safe operation of electrical networks.

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

AspectPower System Protection Relay EngineerPower System Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires electrical engineering degree, certifications in protection relays (e.g., IEEE, CEA)Requires electrical engineering degree, often with power systems specialization
Work EnvironmentDesigning, testing, and commissioning protection relay systems in substations and power plantsPlanning, analyzing, and managing overall power system operations and infrastructure
Industry UsageFocused on protection schemes, relay settings, and fault analysisBroader scope including system stability, load flow, and grid integration

The Power System Protection Relay Engineer specializes in designing and maintaining protection relay systems to ensure grid safety, while the Power System Engineer oversees the overall power network operations. Both roles require electrical engineering expertise but differ in focus and responsibilities.

What are popular job titles related to Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs in Virginia? For Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Power System Protection Relay Engineer job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $116,692 per year, or $56.1 per hour.

Power Systems Advisory Engineer

NRTC

Herndon, VA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

NRTC is Member Driven and Technology Focused - providing solutions that help our 1,500 electric and telephone members bring all the advantages of today's evolving technology to rural America. NRTC's solutions are developed specifically to meet the needs of rural utilities and their customers, and include integrated broadband, managed services, smart grid, mobile solutions. We are a dynamic, growing cooperative with more than 800 employees operating out of eight office locations.
Job Summary
We are looking to add experienced staff to our Smart Grid team to help our utility cooperative members develop smart grid technology roadmaps. Our approach is to educate and support our members as we work with them through a consultative process.
The Power Systems Advisory Engineer supports NRTC member electric cooperatives by providing practical engineering insight, planning support, and implementation guidance that complements NRTC's smart grid advisory services. This role helps cooperatives translate strategy into action by supporting system studies, planning activities, and project execution while recognizing the operational realities and resource constraints common across the cooperative network. This position operates in a dynamic environment, working across multiple member cooperatives and partnering closely with NRTC advisory teams to deliver exceptional member value.
Responsibilities
  • Serve as a trusted engineering advisor to member cooperatives by clarifying objectives, understanding operational constraints, and translating needs into practical engineering approaches and phased roadmaps
  • Lead discovery conversations with engineering, operations, and leadership stakeholders to define problems, constraints, decision criteria, and success measures; document findings in clear, action-oriented summaries
  • Communicate complex technical concepts in decision-ready language for both technical and non-technical audiences, including executive-level briefings and board-ready materials
  • Execute and/or review distribution planning and power system studies, including protection and coordination, arc-flash, fault duty, voltage management and optimization, and power quality assessments, with clear mitigation recommendations
  • Develop study scopes, assumptions, and methodologies that reflect cooperative realities and align recommendations with implementable next steps
  • Provide distributed generation and interconnection planning support, including screening, system impact evaluations, and mitigation options for generators, batteries, and behind-the-meter resources.
  • Support the development and improvement of member DG processes by creating repeatable engineering screens, standard work, data requirements, timelines, and templates
  • Lead reliability and system modernization planning, including feeder improvement concepts, device strategies (reclosers, sectionalizers, DA devices), and integration considerations for SCADA and field automation
  • Partner with member teams to translate reliability goals (e.g., SAIDI/SAIFI) into prioritized, fundable portfolios of projects and operational improvements
  • Contribute to wildfire risk mitigation planning by aligning engineering approaches to risk reduction outcomes, coordinating with internal advisory resources and external partners as needed
  • Provide owner's engineer support on select projects, including design and study reviews, validation of assumptions, procurement/specification input, and implementation oversight
  • Own end-to-end delivery of assigned projects, including scoping, scheduling, internal coordination, quality assurance, and timely completion of deliverables
  • Produce high-quality, defensible technical deliverables such as models, memoranda, reports, and diagrams suitable for reuse and audit
  • Support development and refinement of engineering service offerings through standard scopes, estimating tools, reusable templates, and "starter packages" that improve consistency, utilization, and speed to launch
  • Identify opportunities to extend or deepen member engagements and coordinate with advisory teams to support continuity from assessment through planning, engineering, and implementation
  • Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  • Strong knowledge of electric distribution system planning, including load forecasting, circuit performance, voltage and reactive power management, capacity constraints, and contingency analysis
  • Experience performing and/or reviewing power system studies such as load flow, short circuit, protection and coordination, and reliability or resiliency assessments
  • Working knowledge of distributed energy resources (DER) and distributed generation (DG) integration, including interconnection screening, system impact evaluation, mitigation strategies, and hosting capacity-style approaches
  • Familiarity with grid modernization and field automation concepts, including distribution automation devices and SCADA considerations
  • Proficiency in distribution system modeling and analysis tools and the ability to apply results to real-world operational and planning decisions
  • Ability to structure, document, and defend engineering analysis, including defining assumptions, validating data, and clearly explaining results
  • Strong advisory skills, including the ability to lead discovery, diagnose root causes, and translate ambiguous issues into well-defined engineering problems
  • Ability to develop and communicate multiple solution options with clear tradeoffs related to cost, risk, timeline, and operational impact
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Ability to self-manage and support multiple member utilities in a shared-services or remote environment while delivering high-quality, defensible work products
Minimum Education and Experience
  • Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution or equivalent combination of technical education and relevant experience required
  • Six (6) or more years of experience working with electric utilities; experience with electric cooperatives strongly preferred
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred
  • Demonstrated proficiency with engineering modeling software and Microsoft Office tools
  • Proven experience applying engineering expertise in a client-facing, advisory, or shared-services context
Physical Demands
  • Work is typically performed in a remote office setting
  • Occasionally travel may be required up to 30%

Disclaimer: The above job description summary is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. The order in which responsibilities, duties and skills are listed is not significant.
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