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Relay Protection Commissioning Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Support commissioning of new relay equipment and systems by field technicians Investigate and resolve protection and control system operation issues * Support field staff in construction and ...

Lead Commissioning Engineer

Gambrills, MD · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

... relay protection circuits and associated equipment. What You'll Do: * Develop and/or review test plans, commissioning plans, job sequence instructions for substation and line contractors performing ...

Relay Technician (CO)

Denver, CO · On-site

$55 - $70/hr

Develop commissioning plans and outage sequencing schedules * Evaluate relay protection schemes and perform design changes * Program, test, and validate relay settings and control circuits * Perform ...

Provide field training to relay crews on a wide array of protective devices, schemes and philosophies * Assist crews in performing relay and SCADA testing and commissioning * Provide a professional ...

Provide field training to relay crews on a wide array of protective devices, schemes and philosophies * Assist crews in performing relay and SCADA testing and commissioning * Provide a professional ...

Provide field training to relay crews on a wide array of protective devices, schemes and philosophies * Assist crews in performing relay and SCADA testing and commissioning * Provide a professional ...

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Relay Protection Commissioning information

See salary details

$51K

$96.7K

$125.5K

How much do relay protection commissioning jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for relay protection commissioning in the United States is $96,653.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,000.00 and $108,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Relay Protection Commissioning Engineer, you need deep knowledge of electrical engineering principles, power systems, and relay protection schemes, often supported by a relevant engineering degree and field experience. Familiarity with testing equipment like Omicron or Doble test sets, SCADA systems, and updated industry standards or certifications is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for ensuring accurate commissioning and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills and qualifications are vital to guarantee the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of electrical protection systems in power networks.

What are some common challenges encountered during relay protection commissioning, and how can they be managed?

One common challenge in relay protection commissioning is coordinating with multiple teams—such as design, construction, and operations—to ensure all system settings and connections are correct before energizing equipment. Unexpected wiring errors, communication mismatches, or last-minute design changes can also arise, requiring effective troubleshooting and thorough documentation. To manage these challenges, it's important to follow standardized testing procedures, maintain clear communication across teams, and keep detailed records of test results and settings for future reference. A collaborative approach and strong attention to detail will help ensure a smooth commissioning process.

What is relay protection commissioning?

Relay protection commissioning is the process of testing and verifying the correct installation, configuration, and operation of protective relays and associated equipment in an electrical power system. This process ensures that relays will detect faults, isolate faulty sections, and protect equipment and personnel from electrical hazards. Commissioning includes inspecting wiring, setting parameters, performing functional and performance tests, and documenting results. It is a critical step before energizing new or modified electrical installations to ensure safety and reliability.

What is the difference between Relay Protection Commissioning vs Relay Protection Testing?

AspectRelay Protection CommissioningRelay Protection Testing
CertificationsElectrical certifications, relay protection trainingElectrical certifications, relay protection training
Work EnvironmentOn-site installation and setup of protection systemsLaboratory or field testing of relay devices
Job FocusEnsuring protection systems are correctly installed and operationalVerifying relay functions and performance through testing
Industry UsagePower utilities, substation projectsManufacturers, testing labs, utilities

Relay Protection Commissioning involves installing and configuring protection systems in substations, ensuring they operate correctly in real-world conditions. Relay Protection Testing focuses on verifying relay functions through testing procedures before deployment. Both roles require similar certifications and are essential in power system reliability, but commissioning emphasizes installation and setup, while testing emphasizes validation and performance verification.

Infographic showing various Relay Protection Commissioning job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $96,653 per year, or $46.5 per hour.
Electrical Engineer, Protective Relays - HV Utility and Renewables

Electrical Engineer, Protective Relays - HV Utility and Renewables

ThinkBAC Consulting

Manhattan, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 14 days ago


Job description

Job Description
Mid-Senior Electrical Relay Engineer,Protection and Control Systems - Utility & Renewables
A developer and operator of high voltage transmission renewable energy systems is looking to grow its Engineering Operations Team with the addition of a Mid to Senior Level Transmission P&C Engineer. The role is based in Austin, TX (relocation assistance available) and will support all their projects across the state.They have a hybrid work schedule (3 days in-office a week).
This role will act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all things P&C including the implementation and maintenance of transmission/substation protection, control, and substation automation engineering initiatives in accordance with NERC standards. It will work cross functionally with the Transmission Planning Engineering, EPC, and Operations Teams.
They organization have a flat structure which gives their employees direct access to executive management and the ability to gain a diverse amount of experience on various projects.The scope of their operations includes transmission (t-line), substation, regional control centers, and distribution systems with interconnects to both utility-scale solar and wind assets.
They offer a competitive compensation package that includes a competitive base salary, annual bonus, and great EXCELLENT health benefits (100% covered by employer) and 401k retirement incentives with automatic contributions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Facilitates the P&C Engineering design review and specifications of transmission / substation systems
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Performs remote engineering work supporting relays and RTAC operations
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Develops, analyzes, and test relay settings in support of company operations
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Handles high priority RTU programming and in-house in SCADA testing initiatives
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Leads commissioning, maintenance, & testing operations
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Works with compliance team on up keeping NERC and CIP Compliance standards
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Has oversight on transmission and substation system firmware upgrades

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline with a focus Relay Settings and Power System Studies
  • 3-5+ Years of Transmission Protection, P&C, and/or Substation Automation engineering experience
  • Understanding of NERC Transmission Protection Standard and Compliance
  • Experience developing and analyzing protective relay Settings for SEL equipment
  • Hands-on experience working with ASPEN OneLiner, SEL acSELerator, SEL RTAC packages
  • Solid expertise in the areas of transmission protective relays, relaying systems, and SEL protective schemes
  • Experience facilitating power system studies, relay coordination, and short-circuit calculations in CAPE, ETAP, ASPEN, OR SKM
  • Familiarity with telecommunication and SCADA protocols like ModBus and SEL
  • Experience working as a Transmission Protection Engineer, P&C Engineer, Relay Engineer, or Protection & Controls Specialist (SME)
  • Strong understanding of P&C Design principles for high voltage system
  • Understanding of protective relay testing and calibration via testing systems like Omicron, Doble F6150, Doble Protection Suite, EnoservRTS (RTS)