Lead Protection & Control Relay Technician - Union NJ

Sparus Holdings • Lawrenceville, NJ

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Protection & Control Relay Technician performs hands-on testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and maintenance of protection and control systems in electric utility substations supporting the FirstEnergy program in New Jersey. The work is field-based and involves protective relays, AC/DC control circuits, CTs/PTs, SCADA/RTU systems, control panels, breakers, transformers, and related substation equipment. The position supports commissioning and upgrades in energized brownfield and greenfield substations and requires safe work around medium- and high-voltage equipment.

This is a full-time union position. New Jersey technicians on the program are employed through the union structure, with compensation and related terms governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. The role includes technical direction and mentoring of junior technicians and coordination with engineers, electricians, construction teams, system operators, and utility personnel. Travel between customer locations throughout New Jersey is required, and overtime, outage schedules, shifts, and occasional call-outs may be needed based on project requirements.

Requirements

• Direct experience with utility substation Protection & Control testing and commissioning.
• Hands-on protective relay testing experience.
• Experience with Doble 6150, Omicron, Megger, ENOSERV/RTS, or comparable relay-testing platforms.
• Experience with SEL, GE, ABB, Siemens, Schweitzer, or similar protective relays.
• Experience with CT/PT circuits and testing, trip checks, functional testing, and end-to-end testing.
• Experience with AC and DC control circuits and substation protection schemes.
• Experience with SCADA/RTU testing.
• Ability to read and troubleshoot protection and control drawings.
• Ability to work safely around medium- and high-voltage equipment.
• Commissioning or reliability-upgrade experience within operating substations.
• For Level 3 classification, at least 5+ years of substation field experience with an associate degree in electrical technology, or 7+ years of substation field experience without that degree, along with testing and commissioning experience.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must meet background check and drug-screening requirements.
• Must be willing to travel between customer locations throughout New Jersey.
• Must be available for overtime, outage schedules, shifts, and occasional call-outs when project needs require them.

Responsibilities

• Perform protective relay testing and commissioning using Doble, Omicron, Megger, or comparable relay test equipment.
• Perform functional testing, secondary injection, trip testing, CT/PT verification, polarity checks, phasing checks, interlock verification, and control-circuit testing.
• Perform or support end-to-end relay testing.
• Commission and troubleshoot protection schemes for transformers, feeders, transmission lines, buses, breakers, differential protection, breaker failure, and related functions.
• Read and interpret one-lines, three-lines, AC/DC schematics, wiring diagrams, relay settings, and protection drawings.
• Verify relay settings, logic, wiring, inputs, outputs, alarms, controls, and trip functions.
• Support commissioning and upgrades in energized brownfield and greenfield substations.
• Develop or support work plans, isolation plans, test procedures, redlines, and commissioning documentation.
• Perform SCADA/RTU point-to-point testing and verify remote status, alarms, analog points, and control functions.
• Troubleshoot protection, control, communication, and automation issues.
• Provide technical direction and mentoring to junior technicians.
• Coordinate with engineers, electricians, construction teams, system operators, and utility personnel.
• Travel between customer locations throughout New Jersey and be available for overtime, outage schedules, shifts, and occasional call-outs when project needs require them.

Benefits

• Union wage structure.
• Union fringe benefits in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
• Participation in applicable Welfare and Pension Funds.
• Employer contributions to the National Electrical Benefit Fund (NEBF) as required under the union agreement.
• Weekly pay.
• Paid time off and holidays in accordance with the applicable CBA.
• Company vehicle availability on qualifying assignments, subject to company policy and clearance.
• Mileage reimbursement when an approved personal vehicle is used for business travel.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree