Associate System Protection Engineer

Pacific Gas And Electric Company • Fresno, CA

14h • $95,172 - $150,096 • Onsite

About The Position

This position is represented by Engineers and Scientists of California (ESC) subject to collective bargaining. In this role as an entry level Associate Protection Engineer, you will provide support to projects, protection studies and perform protection job duties for transmission voltages 230 kV and below under direction of a more experienced Protection Engineer or Protection Engineer Supervisor. This position trains in all job duties in its respective discipline and requires a high level of training, direction, and review of work. This job is responsible for providing technical protection engineering for routine projects and maintenance/operation support including but not limited to: issuing protection requirements, relay and automatics settings, processing clearances, and investigating relay operations. Emphasis is placed on mastering power system modeling, databases, Distribution transformer protection, and non-pilot transmission line coordination.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline; or, graduating with a BSEE by July 2026 from an accredited curriculum in the US or the equivalent from outside the US
• 1 year of experience in engineering
• Able to apply basic engineering principles and theory
• Basic understanding of symmetrical component theory and ability to perform fault calculations
• Basic knowledge of logic gate theory and control circuitry
• Able to read and understand Operating, Single line, SLM&R, and Schematic diagrams

Nice To Haves

• Power System Protective Relaying Training / Seminar / Classes
• Power System Short Circuit Analysis Training / Seminar / Classes
• Distribution Transformer Protection Training / Seminar / Classes
• Ability to quickly learn protection concepts and their application
• Current and active California EIT Certificate

Responsibilities

• Provide protection engineering support for projects and studies. The engineer may perform the following job duties for transmission voltages 230 kV and below: Issue protection requirements and prepare description of operations for non-standard and localized RAS schemes, Conduct short circuit studies, calculate short circuit line impedance, Determine and issue relay and automatics settings, Support relay system installations, such as review test program, end-to-end test, load check, direction check, relay release, etc., Conduct area coordination studies, Participate in project walkdown and project meetings, Provide construction drawing reviews, Update and maintain records, such as Aspen relay data base, transformer data sheet, short circuit base case, hard copy files, and automatics data base, job files, port assignment sheets, breaker files, etc., Review and approve new tools and training prior to rollout, Design and set localized RAS schemes based on Operation Engineering requirements, Identify existing protection deficiencies
• The engineer at this level is also assigned to provide normal and emergency maintenance and operation support. The engineer may perform, but not limited to, the following tasks: Provide fault location, Investigate questionable relay operations, perform remote event retrieval, and implement corrective actions, Process clearance request and provide specific protection setup, Assist technicians, operators for routine maintenance and operation work
• Specific Duties for Transmission Group: Provide project and routine M&O support to Hydro generation, Manage digital fault recorders and perform event retrieval, Conduct FERC generation interconnection studies and third-party load interconnections
• To implement various aspects of the above job requirements, the candidate will work with internal engineering, operations, substation construction and maintenance organizations. May attend meetings representing the group, to meet job duties. External contacts are occasional and limited to simple issues.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level