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Power System Protection Relay Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... in power system protection and relay settings development. Job Responsibilities * Knowledge and skills in departmental design guides, standards, systems, applicable engineering codes, and ...

... electrical system protection concepts. Duties and Responsibilities * Perform protective relay ... Professional Engineer (PE) license. * Knowledgeable with power system analysis software: CAPE ...

Experience: 4-8 years in power system protection or relay engineering. * Hands-on experience with relay configuration and testing. * Familiarity with protection coordination principles and fault ...

Model power systems and protection schemes and perform analyses and studies. * Perform arc-flash ... Design of protective relay settings * Microprocessor-based programmable logic relays * Modelling of ...

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Power System Protection Relay Engineer information

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$56K

$117.7K

$179.5K

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

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for power system protection relay engineer in the United States is $117,702.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,000.00 and $134,000.00 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.

More about Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Power System Protection Relay Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Power System Protection Relay Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Power System Protection Relay Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Part Time. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,702 per year, or $56.6 per hour.
Electrical Engineer - Power System Protection

Electrical Engineer - Power System Protection

Black & Veatch

Houston, TX

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Black & Veatch rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 18 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

61st of 351 rated engineering


Job description

Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success.
As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.
Company : Black & Veatch Corporation
Req Id : 114918
Opportunity Type : Staff
Relocation eligible : Yes
Full time/Part time : Full-Time
Project Only Hire : No
Visa Sponsorship Available: No
Why Black and Veatch
Recognized by Glassdoor as a 2023 Top 100 place to work, Black & Veatch allows you to lend your talent and perspective to humanity's biggest challenges in a flexible environment where you are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities. We offer competitive compensation; 401K match and benefits that start day one.
At Black & Veatch, you own your career with purpose and meaning. You are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities at every step of your career journey. Bring your big ideas knowing you are safe to be who you are and speak up with concerns or questions and put your diverse talents and perspectives to use. #LI-TF1
The Opportunity
Black & Veatch is seeking an experienced Power System Protection Engineer with a preferred 5-10 years of experience to join our Protective Relay Settings Team. The ideal candidate has significant working experience and knowledge of Protection & Control (P&C) design concepts, relay setting calculations / setting file development, relay manufacturer software platforms, and power system analysis & modeling software.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
  • Function as a technical subject matter expert and specialist.
  • Develop protective setpoints per industry standards, best practices and client requirements.
  • Work with system modeling software programs (ASPEN, CAPE, CYME, ETAP, SKM).
  • Develop downloadable setpoint files on multiple propietary relay manufacturer software platforms (SEL AcSELerator Quickset, GE Enervista, etc.).
  • Develop and manipulate logic commonly utilized in protection and control schemes.

Multiple locations available! Please refer to job posting header for full list of eligible locations.
Key Responsibilities
  • Continues developing knowledge and may provide guidance and direction on design guides, standards, systems, applicable engineering codes and B&V policies. Provides technical guidance to others regarding projects and disciplines.
  • Independently applies knowledge and complies with B&V quality program relative to assigned tasks. May be responsible for ensuring compliance with B&V quality program. Provides related guidance and direction to others. Supports continuous improvement and change management efforts.
  • Prepares a variety of complex engineering deliverables for larger or multiple projects. Performs complex research and develops recommendations for equipment and/or materials selection. May oversee collection, assimilation, and management of data for engineering work. Prepares complex engineering calculations following standard methods and principles. Manages assigned budget, schedule, and quality requirements. Independently applies advanced engineering techniques and analysis problems and methods. Actively delegates appropriate tasks to lower level team members to develop depth of project execution staff. Reviews lower level engineering work or assignments. Is responsible for one or more of the following: leading production teams; coordinating multiple discipline activity; and serving as the responsible charge for a project.
  • Actively coordinates with all other internal/external team members on moderately complex projects.
  • Responsible for assisting with identification of key client interests and drivers on low to moderately complex projects. Communicates client interests and drivers to project team members and develops approaches to accommodate these concerns in the performance of the work on low to moderately complex projects. Provides support to business development or pursuit activities and may offer other services to clients.
  • Recognized as a technical specialist and has knowledge and skill set to provide consultation and guidance to project teams in a particular practice area. May design a complete project of moderately complex scope or support multiple projects on the complex technical challenges. Actively fosters knowledge management and provides mentoring. May develop and apply advanced engineering concepts and approaches to unique engineering problems
  • Typically assists with performance management process, mentoring, recognition, and any corrective actions required. May participate in career planning, and learning and development. Actively mentors lower level professionals and identifies successors to train in the specifics of their role.
  • May assist with resource management strategy. May have responsibility of engineering resources for small groups of a single discipline.

May be accountable for some administrative responsibilities that include but aren't limited to:
  • Ensuring policies, procedures and processes are effectively implemented and communicated for work group.
  • Ensuring adherence to corporate and division programs.
  • Approving timesheets and expense reports.

Preferred Qualifications
  • 5-10 years of experience in Transmission, Distribution, or Power Generation industry.
  • Previous working experience with Protection & Control design concepts including one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring, et cetera.
  • 5 years of experience in development of protective relay settings.
  • Significant experience with commonly utilized system modeling software programs (ASPEN, CAPE, CYME, ETAP, SKM, et cetera).
  • Significant knowledge and application of the predominant protection schemes and philosophies which are encountered in Transmission, Distribution, and Renewable Collector Substations.
  • Significant experience with Mathcad and Excel software for protective setting calculations.
  • Experience with commonly utilized communication protocols (DNP, SEL, MMS, Modbus, et cetera).
  • Knowledge of IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and its implementation.
  • Knowledge and application of NERC-PRC standards and other commonly utilized industry standards.
  • Proven ability to independently develop written communication and to facilitate coordination with team members and clients.
  • Proven ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
  • Proven ability to lead small projects including management of project schedules, budgets, and staffing.
  • Significant experience supporting proposal development- including, scope of work, level of work, engineering estimates, schedule.
  • Strong leaderships skills, with desire to train and develop early career and/or inexperienced professionals.
  • Significant experience functioning in a QC/QA capacity.
  • Active Professional Engineer (PE) License in State of Residence or Project Needs.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from either a recognized accredited program in their home country or the country in which the professional is practicing.
  • Minimum of 5 years related work experience.
  • All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Certifications
  • Professional Engineer License (U.S. PE), preferred

Work Environment/Physical Demands
Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.
Salary Plan
ENG: Engineering
Job Grade
016
Black & Veatch endeavors to make accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process because of a disability, please contact the Employee Relations Department at +1- or via our accommodations request form. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only; you may not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. General inquiries about the status of applications will not be returned.
Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.
Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.
To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.
A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company-matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre-taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance-based bonus program.
We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP-owned company. As employee-owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long-term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.
By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.
BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.
Notice to External Search Firms: Black & Veatch does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Black & Veatch Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.

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About Black & Veatch

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Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies Together, we own our company, our future, and our shared success. As an employee-owned company, our people are Black & Veatch. We put them at the center of everything we do and empower them to grow, explore new possibilities and use their diverse talents and perspectives to solve humanity's biggest challenges in an ever-evolving world. With over 100 years of innovation in sustainable infrastructure and our expertise in engineering, procurement, consulting and construction, together we are building a world of difference.

Industry

Civil engineering construction

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Overland Park, KS, US

Year founded

1915