Protection Principal Engineer

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Protection Principal Engineer based in the United States. Join a team dedicated to building a modern, secure, and resilient electric grid through advanced power systems engineering. As a Protection Principal Engineer, you will lead transmission system protection and coordination studies, helping improve grid reliability, safety, and operational performance. You will work on complex protection schemes, generation interconnections, and regulatory compliance across high-voltage transmission networks. The role combines deep technical expertise with client advisory, project leadership, and team management responsibilities. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams and industry stakeholders to solve critical grid challenges. This remote US opportunity offers the chance to contribute to the evolving energy landscape, including the integration of renewable energy and inverter-based generation.

As a technical leader, you will oversee protection engineering studies, develop recommendations, guide clients, and support the delivery of reliable transmission system solutions. You will also manage a team, improve engineering processes, and contribute to business development activities. Perform system protection and coordination studies for transmission networks and generation interconnections. Develop and recommend protection philosophies, standards, and engineering solutions for transmission lines, buses, transformers, capacitor banks, reactor banks, grounding transformers, generators, and communication-assisted protection schemes. Conduct system modeling, short-circuit and fault analysis, equipment duty assessments, relay coordination studies, and root cause investigations. Verify compliance with NERC PRC standards, including PRC-005, PRC-019, PRC-023, PRC-024, PRC-025, PRC-026, and PRC-027. Develop protective relay and device settings for transmission and sub-transmission systems operating between 69 kV and 500 kV. Review relay operations, system outages, and disturbances to identify operational issues and recommend corrective actions. Assess the quality of system data and models, ensuring proper coordination between protective devices and identifying necessary improvements. Advise clients on equipment operation, relay settings, and modifications that enhance system reliability. Model transmission system elements using planning and operational software to evaluate performance under different scenarios. Lead and supervise team members, communicate technical challenges and lessons learned, and coordinate with stakeholders to support project delivery. Identify and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and delivery timelines. Develop and maintain technical documentation, including process guides, flowcharts, white papers, working papers, and project status reports. Support business development by preparing requests for proposals (RFPs), defining scopes of work, and outlining deliverables and estimated completion dates. Contribute to transmission protection design activities and related engineering initiatives as needed. Requirements: The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in power system protection and control, a strong understanding of transmission system engineering, and the ability to lead technical teams while communicating effectively with clients and stakeholders. At least 8 years of experience in system protection and control engineering. Strong technical knowledge of transmission power systems protection and planning. Hands-on experience with protection analysis and modeling tools such as ASPEN, CAPE, ETAP, Powerbase, SEL QuickSet, and GE EnerVista UR Setup. Experience working with SEL equipment and software, including developing programming files using SEL QuickSet. Familiarity with ANSI/IEEE guidelines for transmission system protection design and studies. Knowledge of transmission protection design guidelines, engineering philosophies, and coordination practices. Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, including the ability to perform fault analysis and investigate system disturbances. Experience with inverter-based power plants is strongly preferred. Experience with distribution power-flow software such as CYME, Synergi, WindMil, LightTable, or similar tools is an advantage. Excellent communication, teamwork, stakeholder management, and technical leadership skills. Ability to manage and supervise a team, guide clients, and coordinate multiple engineering priorities. Willingness to travel occasionally within the United States, with travel expected to be 10% or less. Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of employee premiums covered. Generous paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays. Employee ownership opportunities through a share ownership program. 401(k) retirement plan with a company match of up to 4%, fully vested from day one. Opportunity to work with industry leaders on complex power systems and grid modernization projects. Remote work arrangement within the United States. Opportunity to contribute to renewable energy integration and the development of a more secure and resilient electric grid.