Electrical Protection, Studies or SCADA Engineer – Senior Level

POWER Engineers, Inc. is seeking a Senior Electrical Protection, Studies or SCADA Engineer. This position reports to our Spokane, Washington office with the option of working in the office or a hybrid of office-based/remote work from any mutually acceptable location within the US Inland Northwest Region including the states of Idaho, Eastern Washington, and Eastern Oregon (please note in the application questions where you prefer to be located). Preference will be given to a candidate with the ability to periodically visit the Clarkston, WA office while working remotely within the local region.

Roles and Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be responsible for completion of assigned projects, and for maintaining and improving client relationships. Completion of these functions requires technical competence in primary production roles as well as competence in working with clients and mentoring team members assigned to projects.  Assigned projects will include electrical studies and/or protective relay settings for utility and industrial/commercial clients.  Systems to be analyzed will include conventional and renewable generation facilities, substations, and transmission and distribution systems. 

The level of this engineer requires an individual who has experience participating in the proposal writing process as well as enjoys customer contact to assist in developing new opportunities for POWER. This person must be able to self-manage, with a strong conceptualization ability and strong interpersonal communication and organizational skills – including the capability to explain complex technical issues at a variety of levels to decision-makers and project teams.

Technical disciplines include any of the following three areas:

Design Studies: substation grounding, corona and electric and magnetic fields, insulation coordination (lightning, switching surge, and contamination performance), transient (time domain) simulation, power quality (harmonics, voltage flicker, over/under voltage, etc.), motor starting, AC interference (transmission line interaction with railroads and pipelines).  Applicable Software: CDEGS, WinIGS, ATP-EMTP, PSCAD

Protective Relaying: short circuit and symmetrical component analysis, time-current coordination, protection scheme and criteria development, relay settings, integration with SCADA systems, NERC compliance, arc flash analysis.  Applicable software:  AcSELerator Quickset (SEL-5030), AcSELerator Architect, GE Enervista, ASPEN Oneliner, CAPE, SKM-PTW, ETAP, RSCAD/RTDS Power System Planning Studies: steady-state real and reactive power flow including outage contingencies, generation interconnect feasibility, P-V and Q-V analysis for voltage stability margins, dynamic stability performance, automation of large batch simulations, working with models from NERC regional entities (WECC, MRO, SERC etc.), NERC compliance.  Applicable Software: PSS/E, PSLF, PowerWorld, Python Scripting Networking and Communications: design and configure network and communication paths for Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), protective relays, meters, Human Machine Interface (HMIs), PLC’s and other SCADA system equipment; develop basic specifications for fiber optic, microwave, power line carrier, or radio communication paths; travel to project sites to troubleshoot and commission network and communication systems.  Applicable network and communication protocols: DNP, Modbus, SEL Communication Protocol, Goose Messaging, IEC 61850 Logic and Control Systems: develop and implement logic and control schemes for remote and local operation of power system equipment; develop programs on various platforms for implementation of these schemes; travel to project sites to test and commission the control schemes.  Applicable Logic and Control Platforms: SEL RTAC, Orion, Cooper SMP, GE-D20 Data Acquisition: Prepare points lists of all data to be transferred between control centers and controlled apparatus, assign and program data addressing and routing information, develop Human Machine Interface (HMI) screens, travel to project sites to test and commission data transfer schemes. Applicable Software: Wonderware, Clearview, AcSELerator RTAC, Visual Basic, OSIPI, Python scripting, etc.

The successful applicant must demonstrate aptitude in the following:

Integrity Initiative and self sufficiency Spoken and written communication Troubleshooting and problem solving Interpersonal relations Organization  Required Education/Experience A Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Electrical Engineering Technology (BSEET), Computer Science (BSCS) or Computer Engineering (BSCE) graduate from an ABET accredited university. Minimum of ten (10) years of industry experience performing studies and/or developing configurations in technical disciplines described above, beyond a BSEE, BSME, BSCE or BSCS degree. At least eleven (11) years of industry experience beyond a BSEET degree. At least nine (9) years of industry experience beyond a MSEE degree. Must be willing to travel on occasion.

Desired Education/Experience Preference is given to applicants with any of the following: specific training and/or power system courses covering topics such as protective relaying, symmetrical components, transmission line theory, power system transients, dynamic stability, and power system electromagnetics. Professional registration is not required; however, preference is given to applicants who are registered professional engineers (P.E., P. Eng.) Preference is given to applicants with working knowledge and experience in more than one of the technical disciplines listed and with experience using the applicable software packages for those disciplines. Preference is also given to applicants with experience in customer focused engineering projects in the technical areas above. Experience in mentoring others, developing project teams and/or providing technical leadership in customer-focused engineering projects. Experience in business development activities including scoping, specification development, budgeting and proposal work. Preference is given to applicants with experience in electrical Protection & Control design including developing drawings and schematic diagrams.

At POWER Engineers, you can have a rewarding career on every level. Our philosophy is simple: Do Good. Have Fun. Build Success.

You’ll work on fun and challenging projects and initiatives. You’ll have the chance to make a positive impact on society and the environment. And you’ll find the support, coaching and training it takes to advance your career. That includes providing competitive compensation, professional development, and a full benefits package:

Medical/Dental/Vision Paid Holidays Vacation/Paid Sick Leave Voluntary Life Insurance 401K Telehealth Benefit covers all providers Maternity and Paternity Leave   New Dads and Moms Benefit program Fertility Benefits Gender-affirming care

POWER is a fun engineering firm. That might seem contradictory to some, but it works for us!

Salary DOE: The pay range for this position is $100k - $140k per year; however, base pay may be higher or lower depending on the candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This figure does not include additional compensation such as health benefits, vacation, 401k, etc.

POWER is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

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