Electrical Engineer, Protection

FirstEnergy•Brecksville, OH

About The Position

The Electrical Engineer, Protection provides technical support and guidance for transmission and sub-transmission infrastructure projects, plans, and capital budgets to maintain the reliability and integrity of FirstEnergy’s transmission protection system. The role develops protective relay design specifications and relay settings for transmission line and substation projects, models transmission systems, performs protection studies and coordination, and supports review and management of protection settings. The position analyzes automatic tripping events using SCADA alarms, relay targets, digital fault recorder data, and relay event records, documenting findings and following up on incorrect operations with work requests and corrective action plans. It also performs studies for new load and generation interconnections, coordinates protection activities with operating companies and external organizations, and supports compliance with NERC Protection and Control Reliability Standards. The role also provides technical and analytical support, prepares reports and presentations, demonstrates a commitment to safety and customer service, and supports storm restoration, including assigned field roles during significant system disturbances. Employees hired at Engineer IV are expected to perform the responsibilities with greater proficiency and independence and will have additional related responsibilities.

Requirements

A qualifying bachelor's degree in engineering or a related technical field is required: a B.S. in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution; a Professional Engineer license; a B.S. in Engineering Technology from an ABET-accredited institution; or a non-ABET bachelor's degree in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering or a technical field plus an advanced degree in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering from a university with an ABET-accredited bachelor's program.
Minimum engineering experience depends on level: 2 years for Engineer II; 3 years for Engineer III; or 5 years with a B.S. in Engineering, or 7 years with a B.S. in Engineering Technology, for Engineer IV.

Nice To Haves

Electrical Engineering is preferred.
A Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide technical support and guidance for transmission and sub-transmission infrastructure projects, plans, and capital budgets to maintain the reliability and integrity of the transmission protection system.
Develop protective relay design specifications for transmission line and substation projects, including protection schemes, relay models, communication architecture, instrument transformer selection, and input and output contact assignments.
Model the transmission system for short-circuit calculations, relay modeling and coordination, breaker duty calculations, and fault locating, ensuring compliance with NERC, RF, and company protection criteria.
Develop settings for new and existing protection schemes and perform relay-setting coordination studies using time-current coordination curves, R-X diagrams, step-distance diagrams, and CAPE software modules.
Participate in peer review, electronic issuance, as-left verification, and retention of protection settings using PowerBase.
Analyze automatic tripping of transmission and sub-transmission systems using SCADA alarm data, relay targets, digital fault recorder data, and relay event records; document findings in the EDOA system.
Follow up on incorrect operations with work requests and corrective action plans for field personnel, and periodically report findings and corrective-action status to management and RFC.
Perform studies related to new load and generation interconnection facilities in the assigned area.
Perform transmission protection activities with company operating companies, other utilities, nonutility generation, the Regional Transmission Organization, and Reliability Councils.
Follow established procedures and retain evidence supporting compliance with NERC Protection and Control Reliability Standards.
Provide staff assistance to management and higher-level professionals as needed.
Conduct technical research, compile and analyze moderately complex data, and solve practical problems.
Prepare technical reports and summaries and make presentations when necessary.
Demonstrate a solid commitment to all aspects of safety.
Meet customer needs through sound service and responsiveness.
Use sound decision-making by developing alternatives and recommendations for technical work processes.
Support storm restoration processes, including assigned field storm roles during significant system disturbances.