Protection Principal Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 25, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 14, 2026.
Overview
We are designing the grid of the future!
The Principal Engineer will provide power systems engineering expertise in protection design and coordination analyses on the transmission systems. This will include designing protection system including overcurrent, distance, differential, communication-aided protection, wide area protection coordination. The Principal Engineer will also focus on system protection schemes and studies involving generation interconnection protection and NERC PRC compliance ensuring adequate safety and reliability of the bulk electric system.
The successful candidate for this position has a strong background in power systems which includes experience with system protection software and tools, transmission modeling tools, conventional and non-conventional generator protective and ride-through functions, and industry standards and can utilize that background effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities
How you can make an impact:
- Perform system protection and coordination studies involving transmission generation interconnection protection schemes
- Providing guidance and recommendations for system protection philosophies and standards to clients and stakeholders
- Applying system protection engineering practices and principles in one or more of the following areas: transmission lines and buses, transformers, capacitor banks, reactor banks, grounding transformers, generators, and communication-assisted protection schemes
- Performing system modeling and fault analysis for short circuit, equipment duty, relay device coordination studies and root cause analysis
- NERC PRC compliance verification including PRC-005, PRC-019, PRC-023, PRC-024, PRC-025, PRC-026 and PRC-027
- Substation and transmission line design experience is of great interest
- Developing protective relay and device settings for transmission and sub-transmission systems ranging from 69 kV - 500 kV
- Review protective relay operations and system outages, identifying system disturbances and providing resolutions to operational control problems
- Assess data and model quality to ensure successful coordination between protective devices and identify necessary corrections or enhancements
- Direct and guide clients to operate equipment or modify settings to improve system reliability.
- Model transmission system elements within planning and operational software to identify expected impacts under various scenarios
- Communicate challenges, lessons learned, and critical information to team members to ensure operational success
- Identify process improvement opportunities and develop corresponding modification plans and justification
- Communicate with a variety of work groups to improve transparency and ensure the overall success of the project
- Develop and maintain process documentation, flow charts, whitepapers, working papers, and other materials necessary for the continuity and success of the project
- Develop communication materials and provide status updates to technical leaders, project teams, or affected stakeholder groups
- Lead process improvement efforts identifying opportunities to enhance organizational efficiencies focused on maximizing team bandwidth while ensuring quality and timeliness of client deliverables.
- Support business development activities including development of RFP responses & scope of work statements for clients, outlining EPE deliverables and projected completion dates.
- This role will manage/supervise a team
Qualifications
Bring your passion, here's what’s needed:
- 8+ years experience in system protection and control required
- Strong technical foundation in transmission power systems protection and planning
- Experience with ASPEN, CAPE, ETAP, Powerbase, SEL Quickset, and GE Enervista UR Setup
- Experience working with SEL equipment, software, and/or developing programming files using SEL Quickset
- Experience with CYME, Synergi, Windmil/LightTable or other distribution power flow software is an add on
- Experience with inverter-based power plants is strongly preferred
- Exposure to transmission protection design guidelines and philosophies is preferred
- Familiarity with ANSI/IEEE guidelines for designing and studies of transmission system protection
- Communication and Teamwork skills strongly preferred
Lead the Change!
Be a part of an innovative team shaping the grid of the future through advanced energy intelligence. For more than half a century, Electric Power Engineers (EPE) has partnered with power and energy clients across the globe, providing consulting expertise and energy intelligence software solutions for complex engineering and grid modeling challenges. As leaders in the renewables space, we are focused on building a modern, secure, and resilient grid. Join us in making an impact on the communities we serve and the environment in which we live. Together we can transform the future of energy.
How we support you:
Comprehensive health and wellness benefits including medical, dental, and vision with 100% premium coverage for you
Generous PTO and paid holidays
MyShare Employee Ownership Program
Work with industry leaders
401K, up to a 4% match (100% vested from day 1)
Location: This position will be remote US
Travel: Occasional travel may be needed (10% or less)
EPE is an equal opportunity/AA/Disability/Veteran employer. The EEO is the Law poster, and its supplement are available using the following links: EEOC is the Law Poster
Third-Party Recruiting Notification
EPE does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters. Any unsolicited third-party resumes forwarded by recruiters to EPE via our career page or to any of our managers or employees will be considered public information, may be treated as a direct application from the person identified in the resume, and will not be eligible for placement fee payment to the agency. EPE will not pay a fee to a third-party recruiter or agency without a previously signed third-party agreement and has not coordinated their recruiting activity with the appropriate member of the Talent Acquisition team.
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