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Substation Protection Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Substation Protection Engineer information

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$62.5K

$113.6K

$149.5K

How much do substation protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for substation protection engineer in the United States is $113,627.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,500.00 and $125,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Substation Protection Engineer job?

A Substation Protection Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining protective relay systems to ensure the safe and reliable operation of electrical substations. They analyze system faults, develop protection schemes, and coordinate with utility companies to prevent equipment damage and power outages. Their work involves using software tools for relay settings, conducting testing and commissioning, and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. This role requires knowledge of power systems, electrical engineering principles, and protective relays to safeguard the electrical grid.

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

To thrive as a Substation Protection Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, knowledge of power system protection, and experience with relaying and control systems, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with industry-standard protection relays (such as SEL and ABB), SCADA systems, and certifications like Professional Engineer (PE) licensure are highly valued. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication are key soft skills for success in this role. Mastering these competencies ensures reliable substation operation, rapid response to system faults, and seamless collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a Substation Protection Engineer?

As a Substation Protection Engineer, your daily responsibilities often include designing and implementing protection schemes, configuring and testing protective relays, and analyzing system events or disturbances. You may also be involved in preparing technical documentation, supporting maintenance teams during scheduled outages, and conducting system studies to ensure reliability. Regular collaboration with project managers, field technicians, and other engineers is a significant aspect of the role. This position typically offers a mix of office-based design work and occasional site visits to substations for commissioning or troubleshooting tasks.
What are the most commonly searched types of Substation Protection Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Substation Protection Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Substation Protection Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Substation Protection Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Substation Protection Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 98% Full Time, and 2% Part Time. Highlights an 94% Physical, and 6% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $113,627 per year, or $54.6 per hour.
Electrical Engineer, Protective Relays - HV Utility and Renewables

Electrical Engineer, Protective Relays - HV Utility and Renewables

ThinkBAC Consulting

Manhattan, NY โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 8 days ago


Job description

Job Description
Mid-Senior Electrical Relay Engineer, Protection and Control Systems - Utility & Renewables
A developer and operator of high voltage transmission renewable energy systems is looking to grow its Engineering Operations Team with the addition of a Mid to Senior Level Transmission P&C Engineer. The role is based in Austin, TX (relocation assistance available) and will support all their projects across the state.They have a hybrid work schedule (3 days in-office a week).
This role will act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all things P&C including the implementation and maintenance of transmission/substation protection, control, and substation automation engineering initiatives in accordance with NERC standards. It will work cross functionally with the Transmission Planning Engineering, EPC, and Operations Teams.
They organization have a flat structure which gives their employees direct access to executive management and the ability to gain a diverse amount of experience on various projects.The scope of their operations includes transmission (t-line), substation, regional control centers, and distribution systems with interconnects to both utility-scale solar and wind assets.
They offer a competitive compensation package that includes a competitive base salary, annual bonus, and great EXCELLENT health benefits (100% covered by employer) and 401k retirement incentives with automatic contributions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Facilitates the P&C Engineering design review and specifications of transmission / substation systems
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Performs remote engineering work supporting relays and RTAC operations
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Develops, analyzes, and test relay settings in support of company operations
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Handles high priority RTU programming and in-house in SCADA testing initiatives
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Leads commissioning, maintenance, & testing operations
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Works with compliance team on up keeping NERC and CIP Compliance standards
  • The P&C Electrical Engineer / Relay Protection Engineer - Has oversight on transmission and substation system firmware upgrades

QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering or related discipline with a focus Relay Settings and Power System Studies
  • 3-5+ Years of Transmission Protection, P&C, and/or Substation Automation engineering experience
  • Understanding of NERC Transmission Protection Standard and Compliance
  • Experience developing and analyzing protective relay Settings for SEL equipment
  • Hands-on experience working with ASPEN OneLiner, SEL acSELerator, SEL RTAC packages
  • Solid expertise in the areas of transmission protective relays, relaying systems, and SEL protective schemes
  • Experience facilitating power system studies, relay coordination, and short-circuit calculations in CAPE, ETAP, ASPEN, OR SKM
  • Familiarity with telecommunication and SCADA protocols like ModBus and SEL
  • Experience working as a Transmission Protection Engineer, P&C Engineer, Relay Engineer, or Protection & Controls Specialist (SME)
  • Strong understanding of P&C Design principles for high voltage system
  • Understanding of protective relay testing and calibration via testing systems like Omicron, Doble F6150, Doble Protection Suite, EnoservRTS (RTS)