Tx Planning & Protection Engineer II - Transmission Planning & Protection - Morristown Gen. Office

FirstEnergy•Morristown, NJ

About The Position

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The Transmission Protection Engineer performs relay protection functions across FirstEnergy’s transmission and sub-transmission systems. The role focuses on studying and protecting transmission and sub-transmission lines, system interconnections, and substations to ensure reliable operation. Work primarily involves relay protection system designs, setting development, and system analyses for FirstEnergy assets within its service territories. Positions are available in Akron, Ohio; Greensburg, Pennsylvania; and Reading, Pennsylvania. Other reporting locations within FirstEnergy’s territories may be considered based on expertise. The engineer provides technical support for transmission and sub-transmission infrastructure projects, develops relay design specifications and settings, performs system and protection analyses, and supports compliance with applicable reliability standards. The position also analyzes system trips, supports corrective actions, coordinates with utilities and other organizations, prepares technical reports and presentations, and may serve in assigned field storm roles during significant system disturbances.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution; acceptable alternatives include a Professional Engineer license, an ABET-accredited engineering technology bachelor’s degree, or a bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering or a technical field plus an advanced degree in Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering from a university with an ABET-accredited bachelor’s program.
At least 2 years of engineering experience.
Commitment to safety and ability to provide responsive customer service.

Nice To Haves

Electrical Engineering degree is preferred.
Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Certificate is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide technical support and guidance for transmission and sub-transmission infrastructure projects, plans, and capital budgets to maintain system reliability and integrity.
Develop protective relay design specifications for transmission line and substation projects, including protection schemes, relay models, communications architecture, instrument transformer selection, and input/output contact assignments.
Model the transmission system for short-circuit calculations, relay modeling and coordination, breaker-duty calculations, and fault locating, while ensuring compliance with NERC, RF, and FirstEnergy protection criteria.
Develop relay settings for new and existing protection schemes and perform relay-setting coordination studies using coordination curves, R-X diagrams, step-distance diagrams, and CAPE software modules.
Participate in peer review, electronic issuance, as-left verification, and retention of protection settings using the PowerBase setting management system.
Analyze automatic trippings of transmission and sub-transmission systems using SCADA alarm data, relay targets, digital fault recorder data, and relay event records; document findings in the EDOA system.
Follow up on incorrect operations with work requests and corrective action plans for field personnel, and periodically report findings and corrective-action status to FirstEnergy management and RFC.
Perform studies related to new load and generation interconnection facilities in the assigned area.
Conduct transmission protection activities with FirstEnergy operating companies, other utilities, nonutility generation, the Regional Transmission Organization, and Reliability Councils.
Follow established procedures and retain evidence supporting compliance with NERC Protection and Control Reliability Standards.
Provide staff assistance to management and higher-level professionals as needed.
Conduct technical research, compile and analyze moderately complex data, and solve practical problems.
Prepare technical reports and summaries and make presentations when necessary.
Demonstrate commitment to safety and meet customer needs through sound service and responsiveness.
Use sound decision-making to develop alternatives and recommendations for technical work processes.
Support FirstEnergy storm restoration processes, including assigned field storm roles during significant system disturbances.