System Protection Relay Engineer I

Puget Sound Energy is looking to grow our community with top talented individuals like you!  With our rapidly growing, award winning energy efficiency programs, our pathway to an exciting and innovative future is now.

 

PSE's Engineering Operations team is looking for qualified candidates to fill an open System Protection Relay Engineer I position!

Specific details regarding the work arrangements for this position will be discussed in further detail during the interview process.

Job Description

The Relay Engineering position is a unique technical engineering role at PSE. It offers opportunities to work side by side in the lab and in the field with Operations personnel as well as directly interface with numerous groups in Engineering, Communications, and IT. Relay Engineers develop, test, document, commission, and troubleshoot equipment and systems that improve the safety and reliability of our power system. This role also exposes Engineers to everything from R&D to commissioning.  Notable Relay Engineering work includes: TLAS, digital substations, capacitor automation, anti-islanding, NERC compliance, event analysis, OT engineering and support, power quality investigations, onboarding new technologies, providing support in the field, and much more. 

This job is considered “safety sensitive” as defined in RCW 49.44.240 and is subject to pre-employment drug screening that includes screening for the presence of marijuana and marijuana metabolites.

Job Responsibilities

• Provides on-site engineering support for Relay Technicians during construction and commissioning activities
• Acts as liaison between Relay Technicians, System Protection and Other Engineering Departments
• Conducts root-cause analysis of suspected misoperations
• Supports Operational Technology (OT) functions (database, server, and asset management)
• Serve as point of contact for relay manufacturers
• Supports research and development of new devices and relay functions
• Supports research and development of Transmission Line Automated Switching and Distribution Automation schemes
• Reviews and archives of relay test records
• Tracks, and documents root cause analysis of relay and protection scheme failures
• Supports investigative actions for transmission and distribution substation outage reviews
• Supports NERC and WECC reliability standards associated with protection systems and cybersecurity
• Provides detailed design review of internal or external technical documents
• Supports emergency response work as requested including immediate and extended restoration efforts driven by weather and other system failures

Additional Responsibilities

• Knowledge and ability to apply engineering principles, practices, theories and methods to solve complex problems 
  • Performs highly complex engineering analysis and evaluations using specialized analytical skills
  • Prepares complex engineering plans, designs, specifications, standards, evaluations and studies using specialized analytical skills
• Supervises and coordinates work of engineers, engineering assistants, office, field personnel, and others who assist in specific assignments (including contractors or consultants) 
  • Interacts effectively with non-technical entities in both verbal and written form
• Leads creation of department standards and design templates
  • Actively influences, develops and shares best practices 
  • Ensures solutions are in compliance with all applicable industry codes, standards and regulations
• May be required to sign and stamp documents
• Acts with integrity and professionalism and serves a role model to other engineers by consistently demonstrating PSE’s values and expectations of employee behaviors 
• Proven ability to interact with operations field and construction personnel, providing effective support for real-time operations and quick decision making
• Recognizes and applies lessons learned to enhance future solutions

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in electrical, mechanical, civil or other appropriate engineering discipline.
• Entry level to 3 years of experience in engineering design, preparation of specifications, technical field work, or system studies.  Other prior non-engineering work experience may be considered for individuals at this level.

Desired Qualifications

• Proficiency working in a range of transmission and distribution-focused projects
• Experience managing projects involving multiple groups or organizations
• Knowledge of electrical power system relay testing principles and practices
• Knowledge of electrical power control system principles