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Relay Protection Engineer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

VA

$62K - $81.70K/yr

Conduct protective relay testing, calibration, and programming for various manufacturers. * Perform circuit breaker and switchgear testing, including timing tests, primary and secondary injection ...

Perform protection relay commissioning and end-to-end verification; validate settings ... Coordinate with PMs, engineering, factory, and supply chain on parts identification, RMA/warranty ...

Generate designs and detailed engineering deliverables working under the supervision of lead ... Compile complete list of relay and control materials for substation projects, and quote/order ...

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$66.9K

$117K

$182.4K

How much do relay protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for relay protection engineer in Virginia is $117,031.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,600.00 and $128,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 are the most commonly searched types of Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Virginia? The most popular types of Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
What job categories do people searching Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Relay Protection Engineer jobs in Virginia are:
Infographic showing various Relay Protection Engineer job openings in Virginia as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,031 per year, or $56.3 per hour.
Relay Field Engineer 3 - Caroline County, VA

Relay Field Engineer 3 - Caroline County, VA

M.C. Dean, Inc

$62K - $81.70K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


M.C. Dean rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 42 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

220th of 349 rated engineering


Job description

About Modular Mission Critical
ModularMission Critical™ is the manufacturing campus for M.C. Dean’s complex, modular product line for datacenters and critical infrastructure. Located just north of Richmond, VA, this site is growing fast serving customers worldwide. Important openings include assemblers for our production lines and engineers and designers for products and continuous improvement. Join M.C. Dean’s more than 9,000 employees around the world making an impact through innovations in power and technology.

Why Join Us?
Our people are passionate about innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values—agility, expertise, and trust—we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment for employees to build long-term careers.

In this role you will lead and perform inspection, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, repair, and start-up of low and medium voltage electrical distribution equipment, including breakers, transformers, switches, switchgear, relays, and motor control centers, as well as other electrical apparatus both in the field and in a shop environment. An understanding of sophisticated electrical distribution systems as well as the use of complex electrical test equipment is required. You will contribute to a safe working environment for co-workers and customers and help ensure the overall success of projects. Local, regional, and national travel is required, ability to travel internationally is preferred.


  • Coordinate, lead, and support multiple projects both onsite and in-house utilizing various company software systems, review and maintain job documentation, ensuring completeness of information from receipt of order to invoice.
  • Perform testing of low and medium voltage cables, instrument and power transformers, switchgear, breakers, electro-mechanical and solid-state relays, and other electrical apparatus.
  • Contain material costs by eliminating wasteful practices and implementing appropriate control measures.
  • Rotate emergency on-call duty and if called respond to customer emergencies in a timely manner.
  • Promote an attitude of continuous improvement and teamwork.
  • Electronics Installation and/or Maintenance on Multiple Systems.
  • Using trade drawings e.g.: architectural, electrical, mechanical and civil to identify potential design and installation problems.

  • Applicants selected must have a minimum of 5+ years of relevant electrical experience with HS Diploma/GED OR an associate’s degree with minimum of 4+ years of relevant electrical experience OR a bachelor’s degree with minimum 3+ years of relevant electrical experience
  • Possess a valid/active U.S. Work Authorization

Expectations of Expertise & Knowledge:

  • NETA / NICET certification (preferred) or equivalent hands-on experience in electrical testing.
  • Strong understanding of ANSI, IEEE, NETA, NFPA, NEC, and OSHA electrical safety standards.
  • Ability to interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and technical manuals.
  • Proficiency in operating and troubleshooting protective relays, circuit breakers, transformers, switchgear, and other electrical equipment.
  • Experience with test equipment such as Doble, Omicron, Megger, Vanguard, and Fluke meters.
  • Understanding of insulation resistance, power factor, contact resistance, and high-potential (Hi-Pot) testing procedures.
  • Knowledge of medium and high-voltage systems (up to 500kV), including arc flash hazard analysis.
  • Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills with the ability to diagnose system failures.
  • Willingness to travel as needed and work in industrial, data center, and utility environments.
  • Ability to work safely under minimal supervision and follow industry best practices.
  • Perform acceptance and maintenance testing of electrical power systems, ensuring compliance with NETA standards
  • Conduct protective relay testing, calibration, and programming for various manufacturers.
  • Perform circuit breaker and switchgear testing, including timing tests, primary and secondary injection testing.
  • Troubleshoot electrical faults and perform root cause analysis for system failures.
  • Conduct transformer testing, including turns ratio, insulation resistance, and power factor testing.
  • Ensure adherence to electrical safety protocols, including lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and PPE compliance.
  • Maintain detailed test reports and documentation for compliance and client review.
  • Collaborate with engineers, project managers, and clients to ensure efficient system commissioning and startup.
  • Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior technicians as needed.

Desired / Advantageous Qualifications:

  • OEM certified field service training program.

We offer an excellent benefits package including:

  • A competitive salary
  • Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • 401k Retirement Plan
  • Military Reserve pay offset
  • Paid maternity leave

Abilities:

  • The position requires the ability to lift, carry, and move objects weighing up to [50 pounds] on a regular basis. Candidates must demonstrate physical strength and stamina to perform various tasks, including but not limited to, loading, and unloading, operating equipment, and assisting in the transportation of various materials. Proper lifting techniques and safety protocols must be followed to ensure personal and team safety.
  • Relocates a 12-foot stepladder without assistance.
  • Works at various heights up to 60 feet and can climb and maintain balance on scaffolds, aerial lifts, catwalks and all types of ladders.
  • Walks, climbs, lifts, squats, crawls, kneels, pushes, pulls and reaches overhead on a routine and repetitive basis.
  • Possess good vision (may be corrected vision), the ability to see in color, and the ability to hear and communicate in English.
  • May use a standard ladder without exceeding the weight limit while carrying tools.
  • Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).


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About M.C. Dean

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence®. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation's most recognizable mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. The company's capabilities include electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life-safety, instrumentation and control, and command and control systems. M.C. Dean is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, and employs more than 5,100 professionals who engineer and deploy automated, secure, and resilient power and technology systems; and deliver the management platforms essential for long-term system sustainability.

Industry

Engineering professional services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Tysons, VA, US

Year founded

1949

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