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Protection Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Astrion

Protection Engineer

Mountain View, CA

$200K - $245K/yr

Overview Protection Engineer - Power & Mechanical Systems Location: Mt View, Moffett Field CA. Status: Full-time Salary: $200K-$245K/year Clearance: Background check U.S. Citizenship required Make an ...

Astrion

Protection Engineer

Mountain View, CA · On-site

$200K - $245K/yr

Overview Protection Engineer - Power & Mechanical Systems Location: Mt View, Moffett Field CA. Status: Full-time Salary: $200K-$245K/year Clearance: Background check U.S. Citizenship required Make an ...

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Protection Engineer information

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$67.5K

$118K

$184K

How much do protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for protection 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 engineers make $500,000?

Protection engineers, especially those in senior or specialized roles within power systems or electrical infrastructure, can earn $500,000 or more annually, often with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership responsibilities. High compensation is typically associated with senior positions in large companies or consulting firms, and may include bonuses and stock options.

What are some common challenges faced by Protection Engineers when coordinating with other departments during system upgrades?

Protection Engineers often collaborate closely with operations, maintenance, and control systems teams during system upgrades. One common challenge is ensuring timely communication and alignment on protection scheme modifications to prevent miscoordination or power outages. Additionally, Protection Engineers must balance the technical requirements of relay settings and protection logic with practical constraints such as equipment availability and outage windows. Proactive planning and clear documentation are key to overcoming these challenges and ensuring a smooth, safe upgrade process.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Protection engineers, especially those with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and expertise in power systems and electrical safety, can earn $200,000 or more annually. Senior roles in industries like energy, utilities, or consulting firms often offer such high salaries, particularly for those managing large projects or teams.

What does a protection engineer do?

A protection engineer designs, implements, and maintains electrical protection systems to ensure the safety and reliability of power systems. They analyze system faults, select protective devices like relays and circuit breakers, and perform testing to prevent equipment damage and outages. Knowledge of electrical standards and tools such as relay coordination software is essential for this role.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Protection engineers, especially those with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and expertise in high-voltage systems or specialized industries, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Senior engineers in fields like electrical, software, or systems engineering working in high-demand sectors or leadership roles are more likely to reach this salary level.

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

To thrive as a Protection Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, power systems analysis, and relay protection principles, often backed by a relevant engineering degree and, in some cases, a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Familiarity with industry-standard protection coordination software (like ETAP or SEL), SCADA systems, and standards such as IEEE or IEC is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for troubleshooting and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills ensure the safe, reliable operation of power systems and help prevent outages or equipment failures.

What do Protection Engineers do?

Protection Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining systems that protect electrical power systems from faults and failures. They develop and coordinate protection schemes to detect abnormal conditions, such as short circuits, and ensure quick disconnection to minimize damage and maintain system stability. Protection Engineers also analyze system disturbances, test protective relays, and work closely with other engineers to ensure the reliability and safety of electrical infrastructure.

What is the difference between Protection Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectProtection EngineerElectrical Engineer
CertificationsPE, EIT, IEEE certificationsPE, EIT, IEEE certifications
Work EnvironmentPower plants, substations, utility companiesDesign, develop, and test electrical systems across industries
Industry UsagePower systems, utilities, transmission & distributionBroad electrical systems, electronics, manufacturing

Protection Engineers focus on designing and maintaining systems that protect electrical infrastructure from faults, ensuring safety and reliability. Electrical Engineers have a broader scope, working on various electrical systems, including power, electronics, and control systems. While both roles require similar credentials and often work in the same environments, Protection Engineers specialize in system protection and relays, whereas Electrical Engineers may work on system design, analysis, and development across multiple sectors.

More about Protection Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Protection Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Protection Engineer job openings:
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What job categories do people searching Protection Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Protection Engineer jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Protection Engineer jobs? For Protection Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Protection Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Protection Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $118,044 per year, or $56.8 per hour.

Protection Engineer

Astrion

Mountain View, CA

$200K - $245K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Overview

Protection Engineer – Power & Mechanical Systems

Location: Mt View, Moffett Field CA.
Status: Full-time

Salary: $200K–$245K/year
Clearance: Background check

U.S. Citizenship required

Make an Impact at NASA Ames

Astrion/MEIS is seeking a highly skilled Protection Engineer (Power & Mechanical) to join our Space Systems division in support of NASA Ames Research Center’s Electrical Power Reliability Office (EPrO).

In this role, you’ll directly contribute to the safety, reliability, and performance of NASA Ames’ high- and medium-voltage electrical distribution systems. From arc flash studies to protective relay programming and calibration, your work will help safeguard one of the world’s most advanced research facilities.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS:

  • PE License (Professional Engineer)

  • Ten (10)+ years’ experience in high- and medium-voltage design, relay coordination, and short-circuit analysis.

  • Proficiency in SKM software, arc flash calculation, and SEL microprocessor relay programming.

  • Expertise in both electromechanical and solid-state relays (calibration and setting).

  • Problem-solving mindset, clear communicator, and ability to thrive in on-site, hands-on work.

  • Flexibility to support after-hours, nights, or weekend outages when required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS / SKILLS

  • Strong understanding of NASA Ames Electrical Power System (preferred).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Perform arc flash and short-circuit calculations, relay programming, and relay setting.

  • Review, program, test, and calibrate protective relays and breaker trip settings.

  • Print and distribute arc flash safety labels for NASA Ames electrical systems.

  • Maintain and update SKM master models for building and drive power systems.

  • Provide protection system specifications and relay settings for new infrastructure projects.

  • Prepare wiring diagrams and schematics for protective relay installations.

  • Support relay technicians during planned and unplanned outages.

  • Maintain and review one-line diagrams for arc flash, short circuit, and relay analysis.

  • Ensure all device settings are properly stored in the EPrO database.

This is your opportunity to apply your expertise in power protection engineering to support missions that directly enable NASA’s world-class science and space exploration programs.

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