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Lead System Protection Engineer

The Lead System Protection Engineer acts as a technical leader and is responsible for the full scope of the design, development, and implementation of protective relay settings and coordination ...

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$53.5K

$127.2K

$167K

How much do system protection engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for system protection engineer in the United States is $127,215.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $98,000.00 and $157,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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.
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System Protection Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various System Protection Engineer job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 83% In-person, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,215 per year, or $61.2 per hour.
Associate System Protection Engineer

Associate System Protection Engineer

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Fresno, CA • On-site

$95.17K - $150.10K/yr

Full-time

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company rating

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 9 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Requisition ID # 172223
Job Category: Engineering / Science
Job Level: Individual Contributor
Business Unit: Strategy & Growth
Work Type: Onsite
Job Location: Fresno
Department Overview
The hardworking coworkers of Electric Engineering ensure all manners of electric engineering-including electric standards and process safety, electric design engineering, instrumentation testing and controls, undergrounding, electric regulatory compliance and electric investment planning-are in place to safely enable a strategic and stable workplan for our Electric Operations partners. Our organization is accountable for program planning, financial budgeting, and project execution and delivery of all electric engineering projects. Electric Engineering is comprised of approximately 2,000 coworkers.
System Protection Engineering provides:
  • Project and Maintenance & Operations support, specify design, requirements, and testing procedures.
  • Review and analysis of power system disturbance and operations.
  • Technical consultation and training for System Operation and Planning issues.
  • Equipment evaluation, approval, and standard development.

Position Summary
This position is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining.
In this role as an entry level Associate Protection Engineer, you will provide support to projects, protection studies and perform protection job duties for transmission voltages 230 kV and below under direction of a more experienced Protection Engineer or Protection Engineer Supervisor.
This position trains in all job duties in its respective discipline and requires a high level of training, direction, and review of work. This job is responsible for providing technical protection engineering for routine projects and maintenance/operation support including but not limited to: issuing protection requirements, relay and automatics settings, processing clearances, and investigating relay operations.
Emphasis is placed on mastering power system modeling, databases, Distribution transformer protection, and non-pilot transmission line coordination.
PG&E is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, collective bargaining agreements, and internal equity.
Annual salary range:
Minimum, $95,172
Maximum, $150,096
Job Responsibilities
  • Provide protection engineering support for projects and studies. The engineer may perform the following job duties for transmission voltages 230 kV and below:
  • Issue protection requirements and prepare description of operations for non-standard and localized RAS schemes
  • Conduct short circuit studies, calculate short circuit line impedance
  • Determine and issue relay and automatics settings
  • Support relay system installations, such as review test program, end-to-end test, load check, direction check, relay release, etc.
  • Conduct area coordination studies
  • Participate in project walkdown and project meetings
  • Provide construction drawing reviews
  • Update and maintain records, such as Aspen relay data base, transformer data sheet, short circuit base case, hard copy files, and automatics data base, job files, port assignment sheets, breaker files, etc.
  • Review and approve new tools and training prior to rollout
  • Design and set localized RAS schemes based on Operation Engineering requirements
  • Identify existing protection deficiencies
  • The engineer at this level is also assigned to provide normal and emergency maintenance and operation support. The engineer may perform, but not limited to, the following tasks:
  • Provide fault location
  • Investigate questionable relay operations, perform remote event retrieval, and implement corrective actions
  • Process clearance request and provide specific protection setup
  • Assist technicians, operators for routine maintenance and operation work
  • Specific Duties for Transmission Group:
  • Provide project and routine M&O support to Hydro generation
  • Manage digital fault recorders and perform event retrieval
  • Conduct FERC generation interconnection studies and third-party load interconnections

To implement various aspects of the above job requirements, the candidate will work with internal engineering, operations, substation construction and maintenance organizations. May attend meetings representing the group, to meet job duties. External contacts are occasional and limited to simple issues.
Qualifications
Minimum:
  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline; or, graduating with a BSEE by July 2026 from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US

Desired:
  • Power System Protective Relaying Training / Seminar / Classes
  • Power System Short Circuit Analysis Training / Seminar / Classes
  • Distribution Transformer Protection Training / Seminar / Classes
  • Ability to quickly learn protection concepts and their application
  • Current and active California EIT Certificate
  • 1 year of experience in engineering
  • Able to apply basic engineering principles and theory
  • Basic understanding of symmetrical component theory and ability to perform fault calculations
  • Basic knowledge of logic gate theory and control circuitry
  • Able to read and understand Operating, Single line, SLM&R, and Schematic diagrams

Purpose, Virtues and Stands
Our Purpose explains "why" we exist:
  • Delivering for our hometowns
  • Serving our planet
  • Leading with love

Our Virtues capture "who" we need to be:
  • Trustworthy
  • Empathetic
  • Curious
  • Tenacious
  • Nimble
  • Owners

Our Stands are "what" we will achieve together:
  • Everyone and everything is always safe
  • Catastrophic wildfires shall stop
  • It is enjoyable to work with and for PG&E
  • Clean and resilient energy for all
  • Our work shall create prosperity for all customers and investors

More About Our Company
EEO
Pacific Gas and Electric Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that actively pursues and hires a workforce that reflects the hometowns we serve. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability status, medical condition, protected veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or any other factor that is not related to the job.
Employee Privacy Notice The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) goes into effect on January 1, 2020. CCPA grants new and far-reaching privacy rights to all California residents. The law also entitles job applicants, employees and non-employee workers to be notified of what personal information PG&E collects and for what purpose. The Employee Privacy Notice can be accessed through the following link: Employee Privacy Notice
PG&E will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in a manner consistent with all state and local laws.

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