Power Systems Studies/Protection Engineer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) • Houston, TX

3d • $115,000 - $201,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The devices we make at SEL are embedded in the power grid. They prevent blackouts. They make outages safer and shorter in duration; they add cybersecurity, automation, and communication. They use cutting-edge technologies and operate at speeds that push other pieces of the grid to go faster. As a Power System Studies Engineer in Engineering Services, you’ll provide solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in designing, developing, and implementing automation solutions in power system management and microgrid control system projects.
• Strong knowledge of power system components, microgrid architectures, and automation technologies.
• Hands-on experience with automation devices, including PLCs, RTACs HMIs, and SCADA systems.
• Industrial control system programming skills especially using IEC-61131-3 programming languages like structured text and function block diagrams.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and clients.
• Proven project management abilities, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and deliver projects on schedule.
• Understanding of relevant industry standards and regulations, such as IEEE, IEC, and NERC, related to power system automation and microgrid integration.

Nice To Haves

• A Master’s or PhD in Electrical Engineering with power system focus, Automation Engineering, or a related field.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to analyze complex power system and microgrid automation challenges.
• Hands-on experience integrating control systems using industry standard data communication protocols like Modbus, DNP, IEC-61850 etc. using serial or ethernet based standards.
• Strong experience with C-HIL.
• Experience with tools such as PSCAD, ETAP, Control hardware in the loop (C-HIL), or similar platforms is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop automation solutions for power system management projects, focusing on the SEL PowerMAX solution.
• Develop, validate, and benchmark dynamic models for generators, loads, inverter-based resources, and other electrical assets using manufacturer data, and simulation results.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define project requirements, specifications, and timelines.
• Develop detailed engineering designs, schematics, and layouts for power management systems for industrial and commercial facilities.
• Configure and program automation devices, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), real-time automation controllers (RTAC), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
• Perform testing, troubleshooting, and commissioning of automation solutions.
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards and regulations in power system automation.

Benefits

• Competitive pay.
• Superior benefits.
• Inspiring work.
• 100% employee owned.
• Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
• Top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• 10 paid holidays.
• Annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days.
• 9 paid sick days.
• Paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
• STEM courses.
• Apprenticeships.
• Tuition assistance.
• Engineering development programs.
• Wellness benefits.
• Fertility benefits.
• Adoption benefits.
• Flexible spending benefits.

What This Job Offers

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