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Senior Protective Relay Engineer Jobs in Decatur, IL

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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:
Senior Protective Relay Engineer jobs near you
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.
Senior Reactor Operator

Senior Reactor Operator

Constellation Energy

Decatur, IL

$159K - $191K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

Constellation Energy rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 96 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 74 rated oil and gas companies

Job description

Who We Are

As the largest private-sector power producer in the world and the nation's largest producer of clean and reliable energy, Constellation is focused on our purpose: lighting the way to a brilliant tomorrow for all. We have been the leader in clean energy production for more than a decade, and we are cultivating a workplace where our employees can grow, thrive, and contribute. Now integrated with Calpine, our portfolio includes 55 gigawatts of capacity from nuclear, natural gas, geothermal, hydro, wind and solar facilities, with the generating capacity to power the equivalent of 27 million homes.
Our culture and employee experience make it clear: We are powered by passion and purpose. Together, we're creating healthier communities and a cleaner planet, and our people are the driving force behind our success. At Constellation, you can build a fulfilling career with opportunities to learn, grow and make an impact. By doing our best work and meeting new challenges, we can accomplish great things. Join us in meeting the country's energy needs today and tomorrow.

Total Rewards

Constellation offers an extensive selection of benefits and rewards to help our employees thrive professionally and personally. We provide competitive compensation and a wide-range of benefits that support both employees and their families, helping them prepare for the future. In addition to highly competitive salaries, eligible employees are offered a bonus program, 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase program comprehensive medical, dental and vision benefits, including robust wellbeing programs disability and life insurance benefits paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick days and much more.

  • During initial license training, Total compensation earnings eligibility ranging from $159,000.00 to $182,000.00 per year (depending on experience and past license status) including a 15% annual incentive bonus, an initial sign-on bonus, $10,000 bonus spread through training milestones, a comprehensive benefits package, and a 401k with employer matching on contributions.
  • After obtaining SRO license, Total compensation earnings eligibility from $191,000.00 per year, including a target 15% annual bonus, License Premium, as well as, extended hours pay at 1.5 times the base salary (expressed on hourly basis) involving mandated operation shift coverage. 

Relocation Assistance: Relocation assistance may be offered to those who meet the conditions in the Company&rsquos policy.

Constellation is seeking Initial License Trainees (ILT) to become a licensed Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) supporting Clinton Nuclear Power Sation in Clinton, IL.

Primary Purpose of Position

The primary purpose of this position is to train and prepare to perform the duties of an Operations Shift Supervisor who holds a Senior Reactor Operator (SRO)License. Upon completion of training the candidate will be fully licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to supervise the licensed activities of licensed reactor operators in the reactor control room. They will also be trained to directly supervise bargaining unit reactor operators and equipment operators generally.

Primary Duties and Accountabilities

  • Attend Initial License Training (ILT) which includes classroom training and examination, along with on-the-job training and evaluation.
  • Successfully complete all phases of training to obtain an SRO license in order to perform the duties of an Operations Shift Supervisor.
  • Perform other job assignments and duties as directed by management or pursuant to company policy, including but not limited to emergency response, departmental coverage, call outs, and support of outage activities in positions outside the department.

Minimum Qualifications

  • High school diploma/GED
  • Meet or exceed one of the following:
    • 1 year Reactor Operator license at a comparable facility or 1.5 years at a noncomparable facility. Comparable is PWR to PWR or BWR to BWR and noncomparable is PWR to BWR or BWR to PWR.
    • 1.5 years or more in a position equivalent to Reactor Operator (or Supervisor) at a military reactor (i.e., Power Plant Watch Engineer, Engineering Watch Supervisor, Reactor Operator, Engineering Officer of the Watch, Propulsion Plant Watch Supervisor). Must have 1.5 years after qualification.
    • Degree from a 4-year program or equivalent in engineering, engineering technology, or physical sciences, or professional engineer license, and more than 1.5 years as a qualified non-licensed operator or Staff member, Supervisor or Manager in work control, operations, engineering, outage management, maintenance, radiation protection, chemistry, or accredited training at a comparable (BWR or PWR) facility. Managerial, staff engineer, or supervisor experience at a noncomparable plant may be credited on a 1.5:1.0 basis (i.e., over 2.25 years required for noncomparable facility), and 3 years required for a nontraditional degree.
    • Current or previous SRO Instructor certification and 4 years experience at a comparable facility or 6 years experience at a non-comparable facility.
  • Maintain minimum access or unescorted access requirements, as applicable, and favorable medical examination and/or testing in accordance with position duties

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