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Senior Protective Relay Engineer Jobs in Decatur, IL

System Protection Engineer

Decatur, IL · On-site

$71K - $137K/yr

... systems; determines protective relay and surge protection requirements; determines the ... Applicants with Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred. Experience with symmetrical ...

Senior Design Engineer

Lincoln, IL · On-site

$86K - $126K/yr

The Senior Design Engineer will create, develop, analyze and maintain product design in accordance ... protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Eaton believes in second chance ...

Network Engineer

Decatur, IL · On-site

$176K - $187K/yr

Job Title: Senior Network Infrastructure Architect (SDN & SASE Strategy) Role Overview We are ... Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans The Know Your Rights poster is available ...

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Senior Protective Relay Engineer information

See Decatur, IL salary details

$57.7K

$122.8K

$178K

How much do senior protective relay engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior protective relay engineer in Decatur, IL is $122,756.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,400.00 and $139,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Senior Protective Relay Engineer, you need a deep understanding of power system protection, relay coordination, and a degree in electrical engineering, often paired with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Proficiency with relay testing equipment, industry-standard software like SEL AcSELerator, and familiarity with SCADA and microprocessor-based relays are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills set outstanding professionals apart in this role. These skills are crucial for ensuring electrical grid reliability, system safety, and successful project delivery in complex utility environments.

What does a Senior Protective Relay Engineer do?

A Senior Protective Relay Engineer is responsible for designing, testing, and maintaining protective relaying systems used to detect electrical faults and protect power systems. They analyze system requirements, develop relay settings, and ensure the correct operation of protective devices to prevent equipment damage and ensure safety. These engineers often lead teams, oversee relay installation and commissioning, and troubleshoot complex issues within substations and transmission systems. Their expertise is crucial for maintaining reliable and safe electrical power delivery.

What are some typical challenges faced by Senior Protective Relay Engineers during system upgrades or retrofits?

Senior Protective Relay Engineers often encounter challenges when managing system upgrades or retrofits, such as integrating new relay technologies with existing infrastructure and ensuring minimal downtime during transitions. Coordinating with other engineering teams, utility operations, and field technicians is essential to resolve compatibility issues and maintain system reliability. Additionally, staying current with evolving industry standards and regulatory requirements is crucial to ensure all protection schemes remain compliant and effective.

What is the difference between Senior Protective Relay Engineer vs Protective Relay Engineer?

AspectSenior Protective Relay EngineerProtective Relay Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in electrical engineering; certifications like IEEE or NETABachelor's degree in electrical engineering; certifications like IEEE or NETA
Work EnvironmentDesign, testing, and troubleshooting protective relay systems in power substations or utility companiesAssist in relay system installation, testing, and maintenance in power plants or utilities
Industry UsageUsed in utility companies, power generation, and transmission sectorsCommonly employed in similar settings, often as entry to mid-level roles

The main difference between a Senior Protective Relay Engineer and a Protective Relay Engineer lies in experience and responsibility. Senior engineers typically lead projects, perform complex analysis, and mentor junior staff, while Protective Relay Engineers focus on supporting relay system installation and testing. Both roles require similar credentials and work in comparable environments within the power industry.

What cities near Decatur, IL are hiring for Senior Protective Relay Engineer jobs? Cities near Decatur, IL with the most Senior Protective Relay Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Senior Protective Relay Engineer job openings in Decatur, IL as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 5% As Needed, 37% Full Time, 50% Part Time, 6% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $122,756 per year, or $59 per hour.

$71K - $137K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday


Job description

About Ameren Illinois

Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Every day, we deliver electricity to 1.2 million electric and 816,000 natural gas customers in central and southern Illinois. We deliver safe, reliable energy to more than 1,200 communities.

Our benefits include:

  • Medical coverage on date of hire

  • 100% employer paid cash balance pension plan

  • 401(k) with company match fully vested on date of hire

  • Minimum of 15 days paid vacation and 12 paid holidays

  • Paid parentalleave and family caregiver leave

Visit our Benefits and Perks Page for more information on benefits provided to regular full-time employees.

About The Position

The Engineer designs control and protection systems; determines protective relay and surge protection requirements; determines the specification of relay settings for the transmission, sub transmission and distribution systems.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Analyze system outages for proper relay and breaker performance. Initiate investigation of questionable protective system performance.
  • Design appropriate, cost-effective protection schemes, review schematic drawings, perform power system calculations, and coordination studies, and perform other engineering studies as required.
  • Schedule and coordinate activities of purchasing, drafting, construction, operating and provide cost estimates.
  • Provide consulting services to other groups in matters pertaining to system protective device coordination and/or automation. Conduct special studies including studies for renewable inverter-based connections such as solar and wind.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Option) from an accredited college or university required. Active commitment to obtain Professional Engineer (P.E.) license is desired. Applicants with Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certification preferred. Experience with symmetrical components and protection devices preferred. Technical Career Path Level depends upon successful candidate's credentials.

In addition to the above qualifications, the successful candidate will demonstrate:

Must be proficient in use of computers with strong academic background in power system coursework. Familiarity with Ameren transmission and/or distribution system and schematic control diagrams preferred. Must have good analytical, communication and human relation skills. Must also have capability to work on major project teams. Ability to handle multiple assignments/projects and prioritize required.

Additional Information

Ameren's selection process includes a series of interviews and may include a leadership assessment process. Specific details will be provided to qualified candidates.

Compensation Range:

$71,100.00 - $137,200.00

* This pay range encompasses multiple levels of the role. Career level and compensation depends upon applicant's credentials.

At Ameren, base salary is one component of a competitive compensation package for employees. Our pay ranges are broad to allow for movement within our organization and to accommodate different skill sets and levels of expertise. We take into consideration a variety of factors including, but not limited to, skills, abilities, experience, education, credentials, and internal equity when determining the base salary offered. Roles are eligible for additional rewards including annual incentive payments based on individual and company performance.

If end date is listed, the posting will come down at 12:00 am on that date:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, military service or status, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other class, trait, or status protected by law.