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Protection Control Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fortinet, Inc.

Jr. QC Engineer

Union City, CA

$21 - $36/hr

We are seeking a proactive and technically skilled Quality Control Engineer to support incoming ... Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack ...

Fortinet

Jr. QC Engineer

Union City, CA

$21 - $36/hr

We are seeking a proactive and technically skilled Quality Control Engineer to support incoming ... Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack ...

Calpine

Turbine Control Engineer III

Middletown, CA · On-site

$109.78K - $139.97K/yr

... Control Engineer for Calpine Geysers - Primarily responsible for work on balance of plant and ... Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with ...

Arup

Senior Protection & Control Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120.20K - $128.40K/yr

The Opportunity • Perform the engineering design of HV and EHV substation projects for power ... line diagrams, protection and control schematics, elementary and wiring diagrams, SCADA ...

Calpine

Turbine Control Engineer III

Middletown, CA

$109.78K - $139.97K/yr

... Control Engineer for Calpine Geysers - Primarily responsible for work on balance of plant and ... Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with ...

Fortinet, Inc.

Jr. QC Engineer

Union City, CA · On-site

$21 - $36/hr

We are seeking a proactive and technically skilled Quality Control Engineer to support incoming ... Fortinet empowers its customers with intelligent, seamless protection across the expanding attack ...

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Protection Control Engineer information

See California salary details

$66.6K

$116.5K

$181.6K

How much do protection control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for protection control engineer in California is $116,498.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,200.00 and $128,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Protection Control Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering principles, power systems, and relaying, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree and, often, a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with industry-standard software like SEL AcSELerator, ETAP, CAD tools, and SCADA systems, as well as knowledge of NERC and IEEE standards, is essential. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication skills help you diagnose complex issues and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are crucial to ensuring the reliability, safety, and compliance of electrical protection systems in power networks.

What are some common challenges faced by Protection Control Engineers in coordinating with other departments during substation projects?

Protection Control Engineers often collaborate closely with design, operations, and field teams during substation projects. A common challenge is ensuring clear communication of complex protection schemes and relay settings to non-specialist colleagues, which is critical for successful project execution and system reliability. Additionally, aligning protection settings with evolving grid requirements and timelines can be demanding, as it requires balancing technical accuracy with project schedules and the input of multiple stakeholders. Proactive coordination and regular interdisciplinary meetings help mitigate these challenges and ensure smooth project delivery.

What are Protection Control Engineers?

Protection Control Engineers are specialized electrical engineers who design, implement, and maintain systems that protect electrical power systems from faults and ensure reliable operation. They are responsible for configuring and testing protective relays, circuit breakers, and control systems that help prevent damage to equipment and minimize power outages. Their work is critical in utilities, substations, and power generation facilities to maintain system stability and safety. These engineers also analyze system disturbances and coordinate with other teams to troubleshoot and improve protection schemes.

What is the difference between Protection Control Engineer vs Protection Relay Technician?

AspectProtection Control EngineerProtection Relay Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in electrical engineering, relevant certificationsTechnical diploma or associate degree, specialized relay testing certifications
Work EnvironmentDesign, engineering, and system integration in power plants or substationsField testing, maintenance, and troubleshooting of protection relays
Employer & IndustryUtilities, power generation, transmission companiesSubstation service providers, utility companies, relay manufacturing firms

Protection Control Engineers focus on designing and implementing protection systems, while Protection Relay Technicians handle testing and maintaining relay equipment. Both roles are essential in ensuring power system reliability but differ in responsibilities and required skills.

What are popular job titles related to Protection Control Engineer jobs in California? For Protection Control Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Protection Control Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Protection Control Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Protection Control Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Protection Control Engineer job openings:
Protection Control Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Protection Control Engineer job openings in California as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 71% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 90% Physical, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $116,498 per year, or $56 per hour.
PROTECTION & CONTROL (P&C) ENGINEER AT SAN RAMON, CA

PROTECTION & CONTROL (P&C) ENGINEER AT SAN RAMON, CA

Aptiva Corp

San Ramon, CA • On-site

Contractor

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

ROLE: PROTECTION AND CONTROL ENGINEER

LOCATION: SAN RAMON, CA (ONSITE)

Job Summary:

Our P&C Engineers independently produce and understand the process to complete P&C packages, including managing designers and drafters for the package.

Who You Are:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET accredited university
  • Professional Engineer (PE) License
  • 4+ years of experience engineering/designing electrical systems within the Utilities or Energy industry
  • Skilled in AutoCAD (MicroStation is a plus)
  • Experience with ETAP, WinIGS, IEEE 88/998
  • Experience using Autodesk AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Bentley MicroStation and/or Bentley Substation software to develop 2D drawings or 3D models are a plus.
  • PE Certification is a plus
  • Knowledge and understanding of one or more of the following skillsets: SCADA, automation, relay settings, RTU configuration, and Protection & Controls engineering terms and concepts are a plus.
  • Experience working with the electric utility industry or petro-chemical industry.
  • BSEE Degree with 6+ years of experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Identify proper protection and control schemes for transmission and distribution substations.
  • Select proper protection devices for equipment within a substation.
  • Prepare scopes of work and estimates for evaluating and designing substations.
  • Identify proper equipment sizing and order material.
  • Ensure the maintenance and adherence of customer standards as it pertains to relay protection.
  • Create drawing packages for substation relay protection that include wiring diagrams, schematics, protection panels, one-line, and three-line diagrams.
  • Interface with clients and vendors.
  • Perform load calculations for load panels, battery systems, voltage drop, and other various substation components.
  • Perform substation field support and field pre-inspection for "turn-key" substation projects consisting of protection panels, circuit switchers, circuit breakers, transformers, control house, and supporting equipment.
  • Mentor new engineers.