Protection & Controls Engineer

Leeward Renewable Energy•Phoenix, AZ

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Protection & Controls Engineer (P3) provides electrical engineering support for Leeward Renewable Energy’s operating plants. The role develops solutions to improve the safety and reliability of wind, solar, and battery energy storage system (BESS) plants. Reporting to the Engineering Manager - Electrical, the engineer leads, designs, schedules, and addresses critical issues across the operating fleet while ensuring company reliability guidelines are met. The position requires managing complex, time-sensitive projects and communicating effectively with engineering and operations teams. Key work includes developing NERC PRC deliverables, coordinating and validating protection systems, investigating misoperations, supporting regulatory compliance and audits, and preparing technical reports and records. The role also contributes to continuous improvement aimed at optimizing protective coordination, reducing downtime, and improving system operation. This is an in-office role requiring presence at the office at least three days per week, with the possibility of working remotely two days per week subject to manager and policy approval. Applicants must already be authorized to work full-time in the United States for any employer, without current or future employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Four to six years of experience in protection and control engineering, preferably in a NERC-regulated environment.
Experience with protection system coordination studies and relay settings validation.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for fault and short-circuit analyses.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to prepare audit reports, collaborate with stakeholders, and clearly communicate technical ideas to non-engineers.
Ability to manage multiple projects and meet regulatory deadlines.
Familiarity with high-voltage substations from 69 kV through 525 kV, associated equipment, and relay panels.
Practical knowledge of Protection & Control, SEL relays and settings, and P&C design.
Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings and protection systems to extract information for NERC PRC reports.
Ability to remain focused and reliable, complete tasks, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
Ability to self-motivate and manage technical projects, including interaction with outside vendors.
Ability to manage priorities in a complex and dynamic environment.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
Current authorization to work for any employer in the United States on a full-time basis, without the need for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of NERC PRC standards.
Professional Engineer (PE) license.
Master’s degree in Engineering.
Experience performing NERC PRC studies and a good understanding of NERC PRC studies.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain NERC PRC deliverables for regulatory compliance.
Perform protection system coordination studies and validate relay settings.
Design and review protection schemes for transmission, distribution, and generation assets.
Conduct fault studies and short-circuit analyses.
Monitor compliance with NERC PRC standards and prepare audit-ready documentation.
Investigate protection system misoperations and implement corrective actions in accordance with PRC-004.
Coordinate with internal teams and external utilities for inter-entity studies.
Prepare technical reports and evidence packages for NERC audits.
Maintain accurate records of relay settings, coordination studies, and misoperation analyses.
Participate in continuous improvement efforts to optimize protective coordination, reduce downtime, and enhance system operation.
Create detailed reports for internal and regulatory review that highlight protection system performance and effectiveness.
Lead, design, schedule, and address critical issues related to the operating fleet.