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Protection Control Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

As a Protection & Control Engineer, you will play a crucial role in the design and development of utility substation Protection & Control (P&C) engineering design packages that include drawings such ...

Lead Protection & Control Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$112.10K - $147.70K/yr

We are seeking a Lead Protection & Control Engineer to join our team in Binghamton, NY or Rochester, NY . About Us AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. For ...

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Protection Control Engineer information

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$67.5K

$118K

$184K

How much do protection control engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for protection control engineer in the United States is $118,044.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,500.00 and $130,000.00 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.

More about Protection Control Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Protection Control Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Protection Control Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Protection Control Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Protection Control Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Protection Control Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 65% Full Time, 31% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 90% Physical, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,044 per year, or $56.8 per hour.

Engineer II - Protection & Control

Qualus

Lake Mary, FL • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

Position Overview
Power your future with Qualus in our Substation Protection and Control department as a Protection & Control Engineer. As a Protection & Control Engineer, you will play a crucial role in the design and development of utility substation Protection & Control (P&C) engineering design packages that include drawings such as one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, wiring diagrams, AC/DC Elementary diagrams, circuit schedules, logic diagrams, operating diagrams, and more.
Responsibilities
  • Coordinate with Substation Physical Engineering, Relay Settings, and other groups to ensure design concurrence.
  • Development of complete engineering design packages for protective relaying and communications systems, including one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC schematics, DC schematics, logic and functional diagrams, panel layouts, control house layouts, wiring/connection diagrams, interconnection diagrams, relaying equipment specifications and bill of materials.
  • Development of SCADA packages, including input / output list (Point Data Sheet)
  • Provides technical direction and on-the-job training to drafters, engineering technicians, and less experienced engineers.
  • Maintaining trusted relationships with current or prospective clients.
  • Confidently and comfortably present technical solutions to key customers; respond in real time to technical concerns and answer questions in a knowledgeable articulate manner.
  • Participate in client meetings/job site visits to collect or deliver design and engineering data.
  • Performs assignments independently with instruction as to the general results expected and with guidance from Manager of Engineering and/or Lead Engineer on unusual or complex projects.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineer (BSEE) with a power systems focus. An MS Degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of the BS Engineering degree. International Engineering Degrees will be considered.
  • 3+ years of experience with developing complete utility substation P&C engineering design packages, including AC one-line and three-line diagrams, DC schematics, logic and functional diagrams, panel layouts, interconnection diagrams, relaying equipment specifications and bill of materials
  • Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) License is a plus, and desire to pursue Professional Engineer (PE) License
  • Physical design experience in addition to Protection & Control (P&C) experience is a plus !
  • Desire for continuing education and licenses

#LI-BV1
Benefits & Compensation
Qualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.
The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.
Company Overview
Qualus is a leading pure-play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 1,800 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.
EEO
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.