Protection & Control Lead Test Engineer

Job Summary:

The P&C Lead Test Engineer is responsible for leading the testing, commissioning, validation, and operational integration of protection and control systems across transmission, distribution, and generation substations. This role serves as both a technical leader and field mentor ensuring electrical systems operate safely, reliably, and in accordance with utility standards, engineered design intent, and POWERX commissioning philosophy. The P&C Lead Test Engineer is expected to understand not only how to perform testing, but also why the system behaves the way it does. This includes understanding system topology, protection philosophy, sequence components, relay logic, AC/DC fundamentals, communications architecture, human performance principles, and the operational impact of testing decisions inside energized substations. This role confidently leads in high-pressure environments, mentors developing Test Engineers, communicates effectively with clients and operations personnel, and takes ownership of project execution from planning through energization and turnover. This position supports greenfield and brownfield commissioning projects involving relay protection systems, SCADA integration, IEC 61850 communications, RTUs, breaker controls, transformer protection, bus protection, line protection, and system restoration activities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

•  None.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Technical Knowledge:

• Lead advanced testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and operational validation activities across transmission, distribution, and generation substations.
• Perform and oversee relay protection testing using Doble, Omicron, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, and equivalent testing platforms.
• Validate complete protection and control systems including line, transformer, bus, feeder, breaker failure, reclosing, transfer trip, and communication-assisted protection schemes.
• Execute end-to-end testing and operational verification of relay protection systems, SCADA, RTUs, IEC 61850 networks, GOOSE messaging, telecom systems, breaker controls, and station communications.
• Perform and validate CT/PT testing including ratio, polarity, phasing, CT saturation characteristics, and single-point grounding verification.
• Interpret and troubleshoot relay logic, phasors, event reports, oscillography, sequence components, and fault behavior to identify abnormal system conditions and operational risks.
• Apply advanced understanding of AC/DC power system fundamentals, complex power and power factor, symmetrical components, protection zones and coordination philosophy, transmission line/transformer/bus and breaker failure protection, instrument transformer behavior and application, and system topology impacts on protection operation.
• Read, interpret, and validate one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, relay settings files, and panel layouts.
• Support switching activities, outage coordination, energization, restoration efforts, and operational turnover within energized substations up to 500kV.
• Treat every testing scope as a system validation exercise, not an isolated component check.

Technical Leadership:

• Lead complex utility commissioning projects while coordinating field execution with project management, engineering, construction, and client operations.
• Review engineered drawings, relay settings, logic diagrams, one-lines, three-lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts for technical accuracy and constructability.
• Identify design gaps, relay logic concerns, drawing inconsistencies, and operational risks before energization.
• Develop test plans, isolation plans, energization plans, commissioning procedures, Human Performance mitigation plans, and Job Hazard Analysis (JHAs)
• Ensure all testing aligns with utility standards, NETA practices, IEEE guidance, and client-specific commissioning requirements.
• Support development and continuous improvement of Protection & Control procedures and operational standards (SOP’s).
• Review testing results for accuracy, completeness, and operational correctness prior to client turnover.

Leadership & Mentorship Expectations:

• Lead crews with professionalism, accountability, and technical confidence.
• Mentor developing Test Engineers in both field execution and system understanding.
• Build an environment focused on learning, questioning attitude, and continuous improvement.
• Reinforce the understanding that protection systems must be tested as complete systems not isolated components.
• Promote operational discipline, verification culture, and strong communication practices.
• Support workforce development through mentorship and training progression.
• Assist in evaluating technical competency, testing quality, and operational readiness, and in building future technical leaders within the organization.

Safety & Human Performance: Maintain and promote a safety-first culture in all environments.

• Strictly adhere to Lock Out / Tag Out (LOTO) procedures and switching boundaries.
• Utilize Human Performance Improvement (HPI) tools to minimize operational risk.
• Verify live-dead-live conditions and establish safe isolation boundaries.
• Lead daily safety discussions, JHA reviews, and pre-job briefs.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA, NERC CIP, utility requirements, and internal standards.
• Support investigation and mitigation of operational or safety events when required.

Client & Operational Engagement:

• Serve as the primary field technical interface between POWERX and the client.
• Communicate project status, technical concerns, schedule impacts, and operational risks clearly and professionally.
• Maintain strong client relationships through technical execution, responsiveness, and professionalism.
• Monitor project scope changes and communicate impacts to leadership.
• Support project forecasting, scheduling coordination, manpower planning, and execution strategy.
• Maintain accurate records of commissioning activities and test results; submit daily and final reports documenting on-site activities.

Additional responsibilities and tasks as required to support the organization's goals and adapt to evolving business needs.

Attributes/Abilities: 

• Must have a satisfactory background/MVR check.
• Must pass a pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and/or random drug test.
• Questioning attitude — drives a culture of verification across the crew, challenges assumptions in drawings, settings, and field conditions, and identifies design gaps, relay logic concerns, and operational risks before energization.
• System-level attention to detail — validates protection schemes as complete systems (CT/VT, relay logic, SCADA, IEC 61850 / GOOSE, RTUs, breaker controls, telecom) rather than isolated component checks.
• Calm and decisive under high-pressure conditions — outage windows, energization events, restoration efforts, and live troubleshooting in energized substations up to 500kV.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills — serves as the primary field technical interface between POWERX and the client, communicating project status, technical concerns, schedule impacts, and operational risks clearly to engineering, operations, project management, and construction.
• Mentorship mindset — actively develops Test Engineers, Test Engineer IIs, and Senior Test Engineers in both field execution and system understanding, and contributes to evaluating technical competency, testing quality, and operational readiness.
• Customer-focused mentality — builds and maintains strong client relationships through technical execution, responsiveness, and professionalism in every interaction.
• Organizational discipline — owns commissioning documentation, test records, redlines, turnover packages, and daily and final reports, and holds the crew to the same standard.
• Strong planning and forecasting capability — develops test plans, isolation plans, energization plans, commissioning procedures, HP mitigation plans, and JHAs, and supports project forecasting, scheduling coordination, manpower planning, and execution strategy.
• Adaptability across greenfield and brownfield scopes, transmission, distribution, and generation substations, night and weekend outages, restoration events, and travel as required.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development — stays current with advanced relay platforms, IEC 61850 / GOOSE communications, NETA practices, IEEE guidance, and evolving utility and NERC CIP standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel sufficient to produce client-ready commissioning documentation, test records, redlines, daily and final reports, and planning artifacts.
• Capable of effectively presenting technical information and responding to questions from diverse audiences — utility clients, operations personnel, project management, engineering, construction crews, and developing engineers — with varying levels of technical expertise.

Experience and Education:

• Minimum 3+ years of experience in high-voltage Protection & Control testing and commissioning, required.
• Experience with SEL, GE, ABB, Siemens, Westinghouse, or equivalent relay platforms, required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Technology, or an Associate degree in Electrical Technology or related field experience preferred.
• Experience commissioning substations from 12.5kV through 765kV preferred.
• OSHA 30 certification preferred.
• Knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC) and OSHA Electrical Safe Work Practices is preferred.
• First Aid / CPR certification preferred.
• Familiarity with NERC CIP requirements preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work safely around energized electrical equipment and mechanical hazards.
• Ability to work in operational substations and construction environments.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Ability to work overtime and outage schedules as necessary.
• Exposure to outdoor weather conditions, noise, vibration, heat, dust, oil, grease, and energized equipment environments.

POWERX is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.