Senior Power System Protection Engineer

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories • Pullman, WA

19h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Power Systems Protection Engineer serves as a technical leader and subject matter expert in the design, application, and advancement of protection systems for electric power networks. This role leads complex protection engineering efforts, contributes to innovative solutions, mentors engineers, and represents the organization through training, publications, and industry engagement. The position requires deep technical expertise, strong communication skills, and a commitment to quality, innovation, and SEL values.

Requirements

• BS, MS, or PhD in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in electric power systems, with a strong emphasis on power system protection.
• Demonstrated expertise in: Power system protection principles and philosophies
• Protection system analysis and relay application
• Power system modeling and analysis, including EMT and stability studies
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical information effectively through writing, presentations, and technical training.
• Ability to lead technical work independently while collaborating effectively in a team environment.
• Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time.
• Ability to learn new technologies and assume increasing technical responsibility.
• Satisfactory background check results as required by SEL.

Nice To Haves

• Hands‑on experience applying SEL protective relays in utility, industrial, or renewable power system environments.
• Field experience with protection system commissioning, troubleshooting, and misoperation analysis.
• Experience authoring and presenting technical papers or tutorials at protective relay or power system conferences.

Responsibilities

• Lead the specification, design, implementation, testing, and validation of advanced power system protection schemes and protective relay applications.
• Serve as a technical authority for the application of protective relays, including relay selection, settings development, coordination, testing, and commissioning support.
• Apply expert-level understanding of power system behavior to protect, monitor, and control transmission and distribution systems.
• Provide technical guidance and oversight for complex or non‑standard protection applications.
• Research, develop, and evaluate new and emerging power system protection solutions, methodologies, and technologies.
• Contribute to the development of internal technical standards, best practices, and engineering methodologies.
• Analyze industry challenges and misoperations to improve protection reliability and performance.
• Mentor and develop early‑ and mid‑career engineers through technical coaching, formal mentoring, and peer review.
• Deliver technical training to internal teams and external customers on protection concepts, relay applications, and new solutions.
• Author technical papers, white papers, and application guides, and present at industry conferences, seminars, and customer events.
• Work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams to ensure high‑quality, timely engineering deliverables.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly through written documentation, presentations, and training materials.
• Represent the organization as a trusted technical expert with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Model and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing principles in daily work.
• Demonstrate the SEL philosophy: Understand. Create. Simplify.

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: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree