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System Protection Engineer Jobs in Maryland (NOW HIRING)

SMECO

ENGINEER SYSTEM PROTECTION

Hughesville, MD · On-site

HUGHESVILLE FULL TIME Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Inc. - SMECO Electrical System Protection and Control Engineer Company Description Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Inc. (SMECO ...

Intrepidgs

Fire Protection Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$88K - $119K/yr

As the Fire Protection Engineer , you will be responsible for providing fire protection engineering ... Design, review, and evaluate fire protection and life safety systems, including fire detection ...

EwingCole

Fire Protection Engineer

Baltimore, MD · Hybrid

$85K - $120K/yr

Integrate fire protection systems with architectural and engineering disciplines. * Sprinkler and Fire Alarm system shop drawing review. * Assist with performance and report on CFD fire modeling and ...

Intrepid

Fire Protection Engineer

Bethesda, MD · On-site

$88K - $119K/yr

As the Fire Protection Engineer , you will be responsible for providing fire protection engineering ... Design, review, and evaluate fire protection and life safety systems, including fire detection ...

EwingCole

Fire Protection Engineer

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$85K - $120K/yr

Integrate fire protection systems with architectural and engineering disciplines. * Sprinkler and Fire Alarm system shop drawing review. * Assist with performance and report on CFD fire modeling and ...

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System Protection Engineer information

See Maryland salary details

$51.9K

$123.5K

$162.1K

How much do system protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for system protection engineer in Maryland is $123,467.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,100.00 and $152,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a system protection engineer do?

A System Protection Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining protection systems that safeguard electrical power systems from faults or abnormal conditions. Their main goal is to ensure the reliability and safety of the power grid by developing protection schemes and coordinating relays and circuit breakers. They also analyze system disturbances, conduct fault studies, and work closely with other engineers to resolve issues and improve system performance. This role is vital in preventing blackouts and minimizing damage to equipment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a system protection engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a System Protection Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, power systems analysis, and relay coordination, often backed by a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Familiarity with power system software such as ETAP, SEL AcSELerator, and experience with protective relays and SCADA systems are typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and clear communication skills help you excel in troubleshooting and collaborating with operations teams. These competencies ensure the reliable and safe operation of electrical power grids, minimizing system failures and service interruptions.

What are some common challenges faced by system protection engineers in coordinating with operations and maintenance teams?

System Protection Engineers frequently collaborate with operations and maintenance teams to ensure reliable power system performance and quick response to faults. A common challenge is effectively communicating complex relay settings and protection schemes to non-engineering personnel, which requires clear documentation and training. Additionally, coordinating scheduled maintenance or testing without disrupting system reliability can be demanding, especially during peak demand periods. Effective teamwork and proactive planning are essential to overcome these challenges and maintain system integrity.

What are popular job titles related to System Protection Engineer jobs in Maryland?

For System Protection Engineer jobs in Maryland, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching System Protection Engineer jobs in Maryland look for?

The top searched job categories for System Protection Engineer jobs in Maryland are:

System Protection Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various System Protection Engineer job openings in Maryland as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,467 per year, or $59.4 per hour.

Lead System Protection Engineer 2 - Grid

Sargent & Lundy

Elkridge, MD • On-site

$134K - $205K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Sargent & Lundy rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 10 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

123rd of 450 rated engineering

Job description

Description
Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team. This individual will have primary responsibility for system protection engineering-including relay settings, protection philosophies, and power system studies-with a secondary role in supporting and reviewing substation protection & control (P&C) design for high-voltage transmission and substation projects. Responsibilities include:
Lead the development and application of protection philosophies and settings for:
  • Transmission lines
  • Power transformers and autotransformers
  • Buses and breakers
  • Capacitor and reactor banks
  • Station service and auxiliary systems

Perform system protection studies, including:
  • Short-circuit analysis
  • Relay coordination and time-current curve development
  • Protection settings development and verification using CAPE and/or ASPEN (or equivalent tools

Configure, set, and troubleshoot microprocessor-based protective relays using vendor software such as SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista, and other major OEM relay software platforms.
Use Powerbase (or similar utility databases) to:
  • Manage relay records, settings, and configuration data
  • Align settings and documentation with client standards and change-management processes

Support event analysis and misoperation investigations, including:
  • Retrieval and interpretation of relay event records and oscillography
  • Recommendations for settings or scheme adjustments
  • Ensure that protection schemes and settings comply with client standards, NERC PRC requirements, IEEE/ANSI standards, and good utility practice.

Develop and review P&C design documents in coordination with substation design teams, including:
  • AC/DC one-lines and three-lines
  • Protection and control schematics
  • Wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and panel layouts
  • Bills of material related to protection and control systems

Provide system protection requirements and markups to guide P&C design:
  • CT/VT ratios and burdens
  • Trip, close, and interlock logic
  • Communications and channel requirements for protection schemes

Support commissioning and field energization by:
  • Reviewing and commenting on relay and functional test plans
  • Responding to RFIs and field questions related to protection and control
  • Assisting with resolution of protection issues during construction and startup

This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, with the expectation of spending three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.
Dependent upon your location, this opportunity offers a generous relocation package.
Qualifications
We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.
Essential skills and experience:
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program (or equivalent).
  • 10 or more years of experience in system protection engineering for transmission and/or substation projects, including:
    • Significant hands-on responsibility for relay settings and protection studies.
  • Strong background in system protection and relay logic, including:
    • Line, transformer, bus, breaker failure, and capacitor/reactor protection philosophies.
  • Proven experience performing fault studies and relay coordination using CAPE and/or ASPEN (or equivalent protection analysis tools).
  • Proficiency with at least some of the following relay configuration and settings tools:
    • SEL AcSELerator
    • EnerVista
    • Other major OEM relay software
  • Experience working with Powerbase or similar relay/asset databases for managing settings and protection data.
  • Demonstrated ability to check and interpret P&C drawings:
    • One-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and panel layouts.
  • Familiarity with applicable IEEE, ANSI, and NERC/PRC standards related to protection and control.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work directly with:
    • Utility clients
    • Equipment manufacturers
    • Construction and commissioning teams
  • Proven experience leading portions of projects, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and meeting schedule and quality requirements.

Valued but not required skills and experience:
  • Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or the ability to obtain a P.E. within a reasonable timeframe.
  • Experience with protection and control design and settings for a range of voltage levels (e.g., 69 kV-230 kV and above).
  • Experience developing and reviewing P&C design documents in coordination with substation design teams.
  • Prior consulting and utility engineering experience supporting utility or ISO/RTO clients.
  • Experience supporting field commissioning, relay testing, and troubleshooting of in-service protection systems.
  • Familiarity with utility standards and practices for documentation, settings management, and change control.

AI & Automation at Sargent & Lundy
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.

Award-Winning Benefits
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 & WellnessFinancial BenefitsWork-Life Balance
  • 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

Compensation Range
$134,546 - $205,557
Transparency Statement
Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well-being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.
Equal Opportunity
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.

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About Sargent & Lundy

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Sargent & Lundy is one of the most experienced full-service architect-engineering firms in the world. Founded in 1891, the firm is a global leader in power and energy with expertise in grid modernization, renewable energy, energy storage, nuclear power, and fossil fuels. Sargent & Lundy delivers comprehensive project services--from consulting, design and implementation to construction management, commissioning and operations/maintenance--with an emphasis on quality and safety. The firm serves public and private sector clients in the power and energy, gas distribution, industrial, and government sectors.

Industry

Civil engineering construction

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Chicago, IL, US

Year founded

1891

Social media

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