Lead Engineer - Protection & Control

Iberdrola•Rochester, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Engineer – Protection & Control is responsible for electric system protection technology platforms across Avangrid’s Maine and New York operating companies. The role provides technical guidance to project engineers on electric transmission and substation protection projects, supporting system reliability and safety. The systems covered include approximately 8,200 miles of transmission lines and 965 substations across Maine and New York. The position leads development, coordination, and implementation of protection-system platforms, standards, designs, settings, testing, commissioning, and technology improvements. It oversees engineering studies and fault-event analyses, supports operational efficiency, and ensures engineering work complies with applicable company, local, state, national, and international requirements. The Lead Engineer also guides technical training and development for the Protection Engineering group, represents the company on regional and national committees, and serves as a primary protection engineering expert across the U.S. organization. The role works across operating companies, global affiliates, internal departments, contractors, consultants, and outside organizations. It provides technical leadership on complex projects, mentors engineers, and may involve occasional travel, after-hours project work, on-call support, and system-emergency assignments. The position is office-based at one of the listed New York locations.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology.
At least 7 years of technical experience in protection engineering or a related field.
Expert knowledge of engineering and design, national and international standards, and compliance requirements associated with power-system protection.
Ability to perform engineering planning, operations, design, analysis, modeling, and calculations, and to understand the business model.
Practical engineering application experience in planning, operations, design, and construction; field experience and standardization knowledge are relevant.
Ability to document and interpret engineering documentation adequately.
Ability to review and approve engineering work to ensure compliance with company standards, specifications, and contract requirements.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulatory standards and requirements.
Ability to perform economic analyses of engineering alternatives, develop business cases, and defend them before stakeholders.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, diagnostic, and decision-making skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to explain highly technical concepts.
Ability to collaborate across departments and work independently with little supervision.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to travel occasionally, perform after-hours project-related work, and provide on-call support as needed.
Ability to comply with applicable immigration requirements to work in the United States if not a citizen of the country of the vacancy.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Professional engineering license.
Experience influencing and guiding department engineers and providing technical leadership on complex projects with broad departmental impact.
Experience mentoring, developing, and supporting team members’ technical skills.
Independent decision-making capability and self-directed work style.
Expertise in complex protection-coordination analysis.
Demonstrated project-management skills.
Awareness and application of commercial considerations, including cost estimating, budgeting, and least-cost planning.
Expertise in power-engineering theory, application, standards, design, testing, commissioning, and analysis.

Responsibilities

Guide engineering design, estimating, and analysis of electric transmission and substation protection systems in support of capital construction budgets and system-performance improvements.
Manage protection-system platforms, including settings, testing, and commissioning performed internally or by contractors and consultants.
Develop the AVANGRID system protection platform and coordinate with global affiliates, including integration, settings, networking, engineering criteria, construction standards, equipment specifications, automation configurations, commissioning plans, and supplier and contractor requirements.
Oversee evaluation and demonstration of new technologies for safety, cost, efficiency, and power-system performance, and implement appropriate improvements.
Oversee engineering studies evaluating equipment and protection-system performance and effectiveness, and analyze operational issues to support reliability and efficiency.
Develop and validate information for engineering analyses and apply engineering judgment to complex technical problems.
Guide analysis of transmission fault-event operations to determine whether protection schemes operated as intended, and ensure clear fault-analysis reports document corrective actions and lessons learned when needed.
Represent the company on regional and national committees.
Lead and guide technical training and development of the Protection Engineering group.
Provide expert consultation on complex protection engineering problems and emerging technological, regulatory, or political issues across operating companies, affiliates, departments, and external organizations.
Influence and guide department engineers; provide technical leadership on complex projects; mentor and develop team members; collaborate across departments; and liaise with or direct contractors on company policies, standards, and best practices.
Review and approve engineering work by others for compliance with company standards, specifications, and contract requirements.
Apply safety regulations in processes and procedures and provide safety leadership by example.
Travel occasionally, perform after-hours project-related work, and provide on-call support as needed.