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The Senior Protection & Control Technician leads protection and control projects from kickoff through energization and closeout for a confidential electrical testing and field services company. This role owns the technical execution of relay acceptance and maintenance testing, protection scheme functional testing, metering and calibration work, and in-service verification, and serves as the primary technical point of contact for the client on assigned projects. The Senior Protection & Control Technician plans the work, directs and validates the work of other technicians, approves test documentation, and resolves complex protection and control problems in the field with minimal supervision.
LocationHeber City, Utah
TravelExtensive travel; up to 90% on some assignments
Compensation$49.44-$77.25 per hour, depending on experience
What you will do
- Lead assigned protection and control projects from scope review and test plan development through field execution, energization support, punch list closure, and final report delivery.
- Serve as the primary technical point of contact for the client on assigned projects, managing expectations through scope changes, technical problems, outage pressure, and energization milestones.
- Perform and direct acceptance and maintenance testing of microprocessor and electromechanical protective relays, including settings verification, element testing, and end to end scheme functional testing.
- Test and verify protection schemes including phase and ground overcurrent, distance, line current differential, transformer differential, bus differential, breaker failure, reclosing, synchronism check, under and over voltage, under and over frequency, and directional elements.
- Perform line current differential testing, including end to end testing with GPS synchronized test sets, channel and communications verification, and coordination with the remote terminal crew.
- Operate relay and apparatus test equipment including Doble, Manta, Vanguard, and Omicron platforms, using three phase and six phase test sets as required by scheme and scope.
- Communicate with and configure protective relays across SEL, GE Multilin, and Basler platforms, and work in relay and test software including AcSELerator QuickSet, Doble Protection Suite, and Enoserv RTS.
- Perform point to point wiring verification, DC control circuit verification, functional trip and close testing, lockout and auxiliary relay verification, and trip path proving.
- Test and verify instrument transformer circuits, including ratio, polarity, saturation, burden, insulation resistance, and secondary circuit continuity and grounding.
- Perform metering work including installation verification, calibration, revenue metering accuracy checks, transducer testing, and verification of metering circuit wiring and connections.
- Perform in-service load checks after energization, including phasing, phase rotation, vector and phasor verification, load current and voltage measurement, differential restraint and operate current verification, and directional element confirmation.
- Read, interpret, and redline block diagrams, single-line and three-line diagrams, AC and DC schematics, logic diagrams, wiring and connection diagrams, panel drawings, and relay settings files; document as-found and as-left conditions.
- Write and issue clear test reports using Microsoft Word and Excel, and maintain complete, defensible field documentation for every scope.
- Support and verify SCADA and remote terminal unit point to point checks, alarm and status point verification, and communications testing where included in project scope.
- Develop and review test procedures, test plans, and commissioning documentation; hold QA/QC responsibility for reports and data produced by assigned technicians.
- Support switching, clearance, tagging, and grounding activities in accordance with client and company procedures.
- Conduct and lead Job Safety Task Analyses (JSTAs), safety briefings, and safety stand-down meetings; apply human performance and error elimination tools to identify, eliminate, or mitigate hazards; investigate and report incidents, near-misses, and safety observations in accordance with company protocols.
- Provide technical direction, training, and performance feedback to technicians; validate the work of others and develop protection and control capability across the field workforce.
- Support acceptance testing, commissioning, servicing, livening, and troubleshooting of greenfield and brownfield electrical power systems.
- Participate in the client’s 24/7 emergency work and disaster recovery rotation, responding to outages, equipment failures, and storm events as assigned.
- Perform special projects and complete other duties as assigned or requested.
How you will make an impact
- Deliver protection and control projects that energize on schedule and without rework by owning the technical plan from start to finish.
- Protect client systems and personnel by proving that every protection scheme operates correctly before the equipment carries load.
- Strengthen the client’s reputation as the technical partner customers call for complex protection work through clear communication, disciplined documentation, and dependable field judgment.
- Raise the technical ceiling of the field workforce by mentoring technicians, validating their work, and setting the standard for test quality.
- Reduce project risk by identifying design conflicts, wiring errors, settings issues, and communication problems in the field before they become outage events.
Required qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related technical field preferred; equivalent field experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive protection and control field experience in substation environments, with demonstrated ability to lead projects from start to finish.
- Demonstrated ability to hold your own clearance and take switching directly from the customer's system operator, rather than working under another party's clearance.
- Signature authority on test and commissioning reports, or demonstrated readiness to assume it.
- Experience pulling and verifying relay settings against the as-built configuration, not solely working from a settings file issued by engineering.
- Demonstrated ability to prove a trip path end to end, through lockout and auxiliary relays to the breaker, rather than stopping at the relay output contact.
- Experience retrieving and diagnosing relay event reports in the field and determining whether an operation was correct.
- Demonstrated discipline in redlining drawings and turning over accurate as-built documentation as part of every scope.
- Proven experience leading protection and control projects, including scope review, test planning, field execution, client coordination, energization support, and closeout documentation.
- Extensive ability to read and interpret one-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, AC and DC schematics, wiring diagrams, panel drawings, and protection schemes, and to redline field changes accurately.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience operating relay test equipment such as Doble, Manta, Vanguard, or Omicron, and working in relay and test software such as AcSELerator QuickSet, Protection Suite, or Enoserv RTS.
- Demonstrated experience with SEL, GE Multilin, Basler, or comparable microprocessor relay platforms.
- Demonstrated experience with line current differential testing, including end to end testing and communications channel verification.
- Demonstrated experience with metering equipment, calibration, instrument transformer circuit verification, and in-service load checks including phasing and vector verification.
- Working knowledge of protection philosophies, fault current calculations, transformer ratios and connections, and switching concepts.
- Demonstrated experience working directly with clients as the technical representative on assigned work.
- Strong technical report writing and review skills with the ability to produce and approve comprehensive commissioning documentation.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook).
- Mathematical proficiency through trigonometry.
- Thorough knowledge of safety and health regulations applicable to high voltage electrical work, including NFPA 70E and OSHA standards.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to represent the hiring client in client-facing interactions.
- Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record; willingness to travel extensively, including overnight stays.
- Ability to pass a pre-employment background check and drug screen.
- Willingness to travel extensively in support of projects across the United States and Canada, with travel approaching 90 percent on some assignments. Traveling schedules are tailored to the individual technician where project demands allow.
- Willingness to participate in the 24/7 emergency work and disaster recovery on-call rotation.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with ABB, Siemens, or Beckwith relay platforms in addition to the SEL, GE Multilin, and Basler families used most often by the hiring client.
- Experience with GPS synchronized end to end testing across multiple terminals.
- Experience with IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus, or power line carrier and teleprotection communications testing.
- Familiarity with NERC PRC standards and utility maintenance and testing compliance documentation.
- Experience with SCADA and remote terminal unit commissioning and point to point verification.
- Prior experience in electric utility transmission and distribution, generation, industrial, data center, or battery energy storage commissioning environments.
- Experience developing test procedures, switching orders, or commissioning plans.
- Experience responding to emergency, outage, or storm restoration work on short notice.
- Certification is not required for this role. NETA, NICET Electrical Power Testing, or Military Prime Power credentials are welcome, but demonstrated field capability is weighted equally. Technicians from utility protection and control shops and substation departments are encouraged to apply.
Physical requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods (up to 8 to 12 hours).
- Ability to climb stairs and ladders and access elevated work areas.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally.
- Ability to bend, kneel, crouch, and work in confined spaces.
- Ability to work near energized electrical equipment.
- Ability to wear required PPE at all times, including hard hat, safety glasses, steel-toe boots, FR clothing, gloves, and hearing protection.
- Ability to operate company vehicles safely and maintain a valid driver's license.
- Ability to travel frequently, including overnight stays.
Work environment
- Regular outdoor work in varying weather conditions including extreme heat, cold, humidity, and wind.
- Exposure to electrical hazards, energized equipment, and arc flash environments.
- Exposure to noise, dust, vibration, and industrial job site conditions.
Driving and safety-sensitive position
- This position is classified as safety-sensitive and requires maintenance of a valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, compliance with company motor vehicle policies, and compliance with drug and alcohol testing requirements.
Reasonable accommodation
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions as defined by company policy.