Remote Substation Protection Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

WORK LOCATION: This position allows for a hybrid / flexible work schedule with a mix of work spent on site at the Sargent & Lundy office and working remote from home. 

This lead engineering position is within Sargent & Lundy's Electrical Analytical Division and will be responsible for the following: 

• Performing protection system calculations and analysis to support a wide variety of clients 
• Develop relay settings associated with HV/EHV Substation and Transmission Lines 
• Develop relay settings for Power Station Generators, Transformers, Motors and Medium Voltage and Low Voltage protection devices 
• Aiding clients to comply with NERC PRC standards 
• Relaying Event Report analysis 

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential skills and experience:

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering (background in Power/Power Systems) and sufficient industry experience is considered in lieu of an advanced degree. Master's or PhD in Electrical Engineering is preferred. 
• 12 or more years relevant engineering experience with an emphasis in power system protection 
• Experience with microprocessor-based relays (SEL, Beckwith, GE, ABB, etc) and electro-mechanical relays 
• Experience with micro-processor based relay software (SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, etc) 
• Experience with Generator, Transformer, and Motor Protection studies 
• Experience with HV/EHV substation and Line Relaying 
• Experience with LV Breaker protection 
• Experience using protection system software such as ETAP, SKM, and Aspen 
• Experience with NERC PRC compliance evaluations 

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• Successful completion of the Professional Engineering (PE) exam
• Experience performing transient analysis of power systems using software such as: PSS/E, ETAP, SKM, PSCAD and EMTP-RV 
• Experience in short circuit analysis and using software programs CAPE or EasyPower  

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to lead others who use modern tools:

• You are expected to lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked.
• Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows.

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back-Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA

• 401(k)
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.