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Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

P&C Lead Test Engineer

Midland, TX ยท On-site

$100K - $132K/yr

Perform and oversee relay protection testing using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ... Review engineered drawings, relay settings, logic diagrams, one-lines, three-lines, schematics ...

The P&C Test Engineer II is a developing field professional responsible for executing assigned ... Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ...

The P&C Test Engineer II is a developing field professional responsible for executing assigned ... Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ...

The P&C Test Engineer II is a developing field professional responsible for executing assigned ... Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ...

The P&C Test Engineer II is a developing field professional responsible for executing assigned ... Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ...

Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ... Support and assist Test Engineers on assigned tasks, sharing developing knowledge and reinforcing ...

Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ... Support and assist Test Engineers on assigned tasks, sharing developing knowledge and reinforcing ...

Relay Technician

Odessa, TX ยท On-site

$60 - $100/hr

This role focuses on ensuring the reliability, accuracy, and proper operation of protective relays ... Team Coordination -- Work with engineers, operators, and field crews to support system reliability ...

Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ... Support and assist Test Engineers on assigned tasks, sharing developing knowledge and reinforcing ...

Execute assigned relay protection testing tasks using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE ... Support and assist Test Engineers on assigned tasks, sharing developing knowledge and reinforcing ...

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Relay Protection Engineer information

See Texas salary details

$62.9K

$110K

$171.4K

How much do relay protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for relay protection engineer in Texas is $109,976.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,500.00 and $121,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Relay Protection Engineer position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Relay Protection Engineer, you need a strong background in electrical engineering, power systems analysis, and relay protection principles, often supported by a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Proficiency with protection relay test equipment, power system simulation software (such as ETAP or SEL), and familiarity with industry standards like IEEE and NERC are commonly required, along with certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) being advantageous. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for this role. These skills enable accurate system protection designs, reliable operation, and clear collaboration with operations and maintenance teams to ensure electrical grid reliability.

What are typical daily responsibilities for a Relay Protection Engineer?

A Relay Protection Engineer's daily tasks often include reviewing and designing protection schemes for substations and transmission lines, configuring and testing relay settings, and analyzing system events or faults to determine causes and solutions. They may also be responsible for drafting technical reports and documentation, coordinating with other engineers and field technicians, and ensuring compliance with industry regulations and standards. Team collaboration is frequent, as projects often require input from system planning, operations, and maintenance staff. On-the-job learning is ongoing, with opportunities to work on diverse projects and advance into specialized roles or leadership positions over time.

What is a Relay Protection Engineer job?

A Relay Protection Engineer is responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining protective relay systems used in power grids to ensure electrical equipment operates safely and reliably. They analyze system faults, coordinate relay settings, and troubleshoot failures to prevent damage to transformers, generators, and transmission lines. Their role involves working with utilities, industrial plants, and substations to enhance power system stability and efficiency.

What are the most commonly searched types of Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Texas? The most popular types of Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Texas are:
What cities in Texas are hiring for Relay Protection Engineer jobs? Cities in Texas with the most Relay Protection Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Relay Protection Engineer job openings in Texas as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 5% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 79% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,976 per year, or $52.9 per hour.
P&C Lead Test Engineer

P&C Lead Test Engineer

POWERX

Midland, TX โ€ข On-site

$100K - $132K/yr

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

At POWERX, our people are at the heart of everything we do. From testing and commissioning to engineering and compliance, every service we provide plays a vital role in powering safe, reliable, and efficient systems.
As the nation's leading provider of comprehensive power solutions, we foster a culture of integrity, respect, and teamwork. In an ever-evolving industry, our mission is to help businesses optimize system performance, ensure safety and compliance, and drive operational excellence through innovation and accountability.
Whether you're an experienced professional or launching your career, POWERX provides an environment where you can grow, make an impact, and build a lasting legacy.
ABOUT US
At POWERX, we take pride in being the premier provider of comprehensive power services, ensuring that power systems operate efficiently and reliably. Our commitment to quality and excellence is evident in our field services, engineering and consulting expertise, and adherence to certifications and regulations. Safety and performance are at the forefront of our integrated approach.
We are a people-first company, valuing integrity, respect, and teamwork. Our mission is to empower businesses by optimizing system performance, ensuring safety and compliance, and driving operational excellence with innovative solutions. At POWERX, we offer a dynamic environment where both experienced professionals and newcomers can grow, make an impact, and build a legacy.
Our vision is to lead the future of power systems with cutting-edge technology, sustainable practices, and a relentless focus on customer success. We are dedicated to expanding our expertise, locations, and services while maintaining our people-first philosophy. Partnering with POWERX means gaining a trusted team of passionate experts committed to delivering value and fostering lasting relationships. Join us in making power work for our clients and the communities we serve!
OUR POWERX PERKS
  • Competitive Pay
  • Incentives for Certifications
  • Referral Bonus Program
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Medical, dental, vision, LTD, STD, Basic Life/AD&D, and other ancillary products
  • 401k program with a company match
  • Performance Program
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • PTO including Wellness Days and Paid Holidays
  • And much more!

Job Summary:
The P&C Lead Test Engineer is responsible for leading the testing, commissioning, validation, and operational integration of protection and control systems across transmission, distribution, and generation substations. This role serves as both a technical leader and field mentor ensuring electrical systems operate safely, reliably, and in accordance with utility standards, engineered design intent, and POWERX commissioning philosophy. The P&C Lead Test Engineer is expected to understand not only how to perform testing, but also why the system behaves the way it does. This includes understanding system topology, protection philosophy, sequence components, relay logic, AC/DC fundamentals, communications architecture, human performance principles, and the operational impact of testing decisions inside energized substations. This role confidently leads in high-pressure environments, mentors developing Test Engineers, communicates effectively with clients and operations personnel, and takes ownership of project execution from planning through energization and turnover. This position supports greenfield and brownfield commissioning projects involving relay protection systems, SCADA integration, IEC 61850 communications, RTUs, breaker controls, transformer protection, bus protection, line protection, and system restoration activities.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • None.

Duties/Responsibilities:
Technical Knowledge:
  • Lead advanced testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and operational validation activities across transmission, distribution, and generation substations.
  • Perform and oversee relay protection testing using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, and equivalent testing platforms.
  • Validate complete protection and control systems including line, transformer, bus, feeder, breaker failure, reclosing, transfer trip, and communication-assisted protection schemes.
  • Execute end-to-end testing and operational verification of relay protection systems, SCADA, RTUs, IEC 61850 networks, GOOSE messaging, telecom systems, breaker controls, and station communications.
  • Perform and validate CT/PT testing including ratio, polarity, phasing, CT saturation characteristics, and single-point grounding verification.
  • Interpret and troubleshoot relay logic, phasors, event reports, oscillography, sequence components, and fault behavior to identify abnormal system conditions and operational risks.
  • Apply advanced understanding of AC/DC power system fundamentals, complex power and power factor, symmetrical components, protection zones and coordination philosophy, transmission line/transformer/bus and breaker failure protection, instrument transformer behavior and application, and system topology impacts on protection operation.
  • Read, interpret, and validate one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, relay settings files, and panel layouts.
  • Support switching activities, outage coordination, energization, restoration efforts, and operational turnover within energized substations up to 500kV.
  • Treat every testing scope as a system validation exercise, not an isolated component check.

Technical Leadership:
  • Lead complex utility commissioning projects while coordinating field execution with project management, engineering, construction, and client operations.
  • Review engineered drawings, relay settings, logic diagrams, one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts for technical accuracy and constructability.
  • Identify design gaps, relay logic concerns, drawing inconsistencies, and operational risks before energization.
  • Develop test plans, isolation plans, energization plans, commissioning procedures, Human Performance mitigation plans, and Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)
  • Ensure all testing aligns with utility standards, NETA practices, IEEE guidance, and client-specific commissioning requirements.
  • Support development and continuous improvement of Protection & Control procedures and operational standards (SOP's).
  • Review testing results for accuracy, completeness, and operational correctness prior to client turnover.

Leadership & Mentorship Expectations:
  • Lead crews with professionalism, accountability, and technical confidence.
  • Mentor developing Test Engineers in both field execution and system understanding.
  • Build an environment focused on learning, questioning attitude, and continuous improvement.
  • Reinforce the understanding that protection systems must be tested as complete systems not isolated components.
  • Promote operational discipline, verification culture, and strong communication practices.
  • Support workforce development through mentorship and training progression.
  • Assist in evaluating technical competency, testing quality, and operational readiness, and in building future technical leaders within the organization.

Safety & Human Performance:Maintain and promote a safety-first culture in all environments.
  • Strictly adhere to Lock Out / Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and switching boundaries.
  • Utilize Human Performance Improvement (HPI) tools to minimize operational risk.
  • Verify live-dead-live conditions and establish safe isolation boundaries.
  • Lead daily safety discussions, JHA reviews, and pre-job briefs.
  • Maintain compliance with OSHA, NERC CIP, utility requirements, and internal standards.
  • Support investigation and mitigation of operational or safety events when required.

Client & Operational Engagement:
  • Serve as the primary field technical interface between POWERX and the client.
  • Communicate project status, technical concerns, schedule impacts, and operational risks clearly and professionally.
  • Maintain strong client relationships through technical execution, responsiveness, and professionalism.
  • Monitor project scope changes and communicate impacts to leadership.
  • Support project forecasting, scheduling coordination, manpower planning, and execution strategy.
  • Maintain accurate records of commissioning activities and test results; submit daily and final reports documenting on-site activities.

Additional responsibilities and tasks as required to support the organization's goals and adapt to evolving business needs.
Attributes/Abilities:
  • Must have a satisfactory background/MVR check.
  • Must pass a pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and/or random drug test.
  • Questioning attitude - drives a culture of verification across the crew, challenges assumptions in drawings, settings, and field conditions, and identifies design gaps, relay logic concerns, and operational risks before energization.
  • System-level attention to detail - validates protection schemes as complete systems (CT/VT, relay logic, SCADA, IEC 61850 / GOOSE, RTUs, breaker controls, telecom) rather than isolated component checks.
  • Calm and decisive under high-pressure conditions - outage windows, energization events, restoration efforts, and live troubleshooting in energized substations up to 500kV.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills - serves as the primary field technical interface between POWERX and the client, communicating project status, technical concerns, schedule impacts, and operational risks clearly to engineering, operations, project management, and construction.
  • Mentorship mindset - actively develops Test Engineers, Test Engineer IIs, and Senior Test Engineers in both field execution and system understanding, and contributes to evaluating technical competency, testing quality, and operational readiness.
  • Customer-focused mentality - builds and maintains strong client relationships through technical execution, responsiveness, and professionalism in every interaction.
  • Organizational discipline - owns commissioning documentation, test records, redlines, turnover packages, and daily and final reports, and holds the crew to the same standard.
  • Strong planning and forecasting capability - develops test plans, isolation plans, energization plans, commissioning procedures, HP mitigation plans, and JHAs, and supports project forecasting, scheduling coordination, manpower planning, and execution strategy.
  • Adaptability across greenfield and brownfield scopes, transmission, distribution, and generation substations, night and weekend outages, restoration events, and travel as required.
  • Commitment to continuous learning and professional development - stays current with advanced relay platforms, IEC 61850 / GOOSE communications, NETA practices, IEEE guidance, and evolving utility and NERC CIP standards.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel sufficient to produce client-ready commissioning documentation, test records, redlines, daily and final reports, and planning artifacts.
  • Capable of effectively presenting technical information and responding to questions from diverse audiences - utility clients, operations personnel, project management, engineering, construction crews, and developing engineers - with varying levels of technical expertise.

Experience and Education:
  • Minimum 3+ years of experience in high-voltage Protection & Control testing and commissioning, required.
  • Experience with SEL, GE, ABB, Siemens, Westinghouse, or equivalent relay platforms, required.
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Technology, or an Associate degree in Electrical Technology or related field experience preferred.
  • Experience commissioning substations from 12.5kV through 765kV preferred.
  • OSHA 30 certification preferred.
  • Knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and OSHA Electrical Safe Work Practices is preferred.
  • First Aid / CPR certification preferred.
  • Familiarity with NERC CIP requirements preferred.

Physical Requirements:
  • Ability to work safely around energized electrical equipment and mechanical hazards.
  • Ability to work in operational substations and construction environments.
  • Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
  • Ability to travel as required.
  • Ability to work overtime and outage schedules as necessary.
  • Exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, vibration, heat, dust, oil, grease, and energized equipment environments.

POWERX is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.