About this opportunity
Sargent & Lundy lists this Lead System Protection Engineer 2 - Grid opportunity in santa ana, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Responsibilities
Sargent & Lundy is seeking a Lead System Protection Engineer to join our Grid Services team. This individual will have primary responsibility for system protection engineering—including relay settings, protection philosophies, and power system studies—with a secondary role in supporting and reviewing substation protection & control (P&C) design for high‑voltage transmission and substation projects. Responsibilities include:
Transmission lines
Power transformers and autotransformers
Buses and breakers
Capacitor and reactor banks
Station service and auxiliary systems
Perform System Protection Studies, Including
Short‑circuit analysis
Relay coordination and time‑current curve development
Protection settings development and verification using CAPE and/or ASPEN (or equivalent tools)
Configure, set, and troubleshoot microprocessor‑based protective relays using vendor software such as SEL AcSELerator, EnerVista, and other major OEM relay software platforms.
Use Powerbase (or Similar Utility Databases) To
Manage relay records, settings, and configuration data
Align settings and documentation with client standards and change‑management processes
Support Event Analysis And Misoperation Investigations, Including
Retrieval and interpretation of relay event records and oscillography
Recommendations for settings or scheme adjustments
Ensure that protection schemes and settings comply with client standards, NERC PRC requirements, IEEE/ANSI standards, and good utility practice.
Develop and review P&C design documents in coordination with substation design teams,
AC/DC one‑lines and three‑lines
Protection and control schematics
Wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and panel layouts
Bills of material related to protection and control systems
Provide system protection requirements and markups to guide P&C design:
CT/VT ratios and burdens
Trip, close, and interlock logic
Communications and channel requirements for protection schemes
Support Commissioning And Field Energization By
Reviewing and commenting on relay and functional test plans
Responding to RFIs and field questions related to protection and control
Assisting with resolution of protection issues during construction and startup
This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, with the expectation of spending three days a week in the office, giving you the flexibility to work remotely for two days.
Dependent upon your location, this opportunity offers a generous relocation package.
Qualifications
We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.
Essential Skills And Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited program (or equivalent).
10 or more years of experience in system protection engineering for transmission and/or substation projects, including:
Significant hands‑on responsibility for relay settings and protection studies.
Strong background in system protection and relay logic, including:
Line, transformer, bus, breaker failure, and capacitor/reactor protection philosophies.
Proven experience performing fault studies and relay coordination using CAPE and/or ASPEN (or equivalent protection analysis tools).
Proficiency with at least some of the following relay configuration and settings tools:
SEL AcSELerator
EnerVista
Other major OEM relay software
Experience working with Powerbase or similar relay/asset databases for managing settings and protection data.
Demonstrated ability to check and interpret P&C drawings:
One‑lines, three‑lines, schematics, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams, and panel layouts.
Familiarity with applicable IEEE, ANSI, and NERC/PRC standards related to protection and control.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work directly with:
Utility clients
Equipment manufacturers
Construction and commissioning teams
Proven experience leading portions of projects, coordinating with multidisciplinary teams, and meeting schedule and quality requirements.
Valued But Not Required Skills And Experience
Professional Engineer (P.E.) license or the ability to obtain a P.E. within a reasonable timeframe.
Experience with protection and control design and settings for a range of voltage levels (e.g., 69 kV–230 kV and above).
Experience developing and reviewing P&C design documents in coordination with substation design teams.
Prior consulting and utility engineering experience supporting utility or ISO/RTO clients.
Experience supporting field commissioning, relay testing, and troubleshooting of in‑service protection systems.
Familiarity with utility standards and practices for documentation, settings management, and change control.
Technology & Innovation
Sargent & Lundy values the appropriate use of technology to improve how work gets done and deliver high‑quality outcomes for our clients. Depending on the role, employees may use data, automation, artificial intelligence, and other digital tools to support research, analysis, engineering and design activities, workflow improvement, or other aspects of their work.
We value candidates who demonstrate an interest in learning and effectively using emerging technologies where relevant to their role. Employees remain accountable for their work and are expected to apply appropriate professional judgment and review when using technology‑assisted tools.
Experience with AI, automation, programming, or similar technologies is valued where relevant but is not required unless specifically identified elsewhere in the job description.
About Sargent & Lundy
At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well‑being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work‑life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award‑winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Health & Wellness Financial Benefits Work-Life Balance
Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
Life & Accident Insurance
Disability Coverage
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Back-Up Daycare
FSA & HSA
401(k)
Pre-Tax Commuter Account
Merit Scholarship Program
Employee Discount Program
Corporate Charitable Giving Program
Tuition Assistance
First Professional Licensure Bonus
Employee Referral Bonus
Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Paid Parental Leave
Paid Bereavement Leave
Flexible Work Arrangements
Compensation Range
$134,546 - $205,557
Transparency Statement
Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well‑being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.
Equal Opportunity
Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.
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Worksite address
santa ana, CA, 92725, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.