Relay Protection Engineer

At PGE, our work involves dreaming about, planning for, and realizing a smarter, cleaner, more enduring Oregon neighborhood. Its core to our DNA and we haven’t stopped since we started in 1888. We energize lives, strengthen communities and drive advancements in energy that promote social, economic and environmental progress. We’re always on the lookout for people passionate about leading and being a part of teams that are advancing innovative clean energy solutions that are also affordable and accessible to all.

Our team: 

We are not just powering the present; we’re shaping the future of electrical energy. We're at the forefront of ensuring the reliable and efficient operation of electrical power systems. Our team of Protection Engineers play a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of the electrical grid by designing and implementing protective relay systems. We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of engineering excellence and ensuring that our systems adhere to regulatory requirements.  

Our team supports Generation and Substations, covering both Transmission and Distribution voltages. This diversity provides a wealth of opportunities to build technical expertise. Moreover, you'll have the chance to develop into a Quality Assurance expert, ensuring the highest standards for relay settings. All settings are rigorously peer-reviewed before being deployed to Relay Techs in the field. 

This job is intended to remain open and continually accept applications for multiple experience levels on our Protection Engineering team.  There is no fixed deadline for applications as we continuously review them to identify potential candidates.  See determining qualifications below, posted Sr. level.

Your role: 

As a Relay Protection Engineer, you will be at the heart of our mission to detect and rectify abnormal power system conditions, ensuring the continuous and reliable delivery of electricity. This role offers a unique blend of technical challenges, innovation, and the opportunity to influence the future of power system protection. 

Why Join Us: 

• Technical Excellence: Be part of the most technically advanced aspect of the utility industry, where you'll have the opportunity to shape the future of protection engineering. 
• Impact: Your work will directly impact the reliability of the electrical grid, minimizing outages, and protecting critical equipment. 
• Innovation: Embrace the ever-evolving technology landscape, working with and developing cutting-edge solutions to enhance system protection. 

• Mentorship: Contribute to the growth of your colleagues and future protection engineers, sharing your expertise and knowledge. 
• Collaborative Environment: Join a collaborative and forward-thinking team that values diversity and creativity. 

The work you’ll be responsible for: 

• Maintains currency in state-of-the-art engineering practices and provides guidance and direction on engineering processes and standards to colleagues when requested. 

• Provides guidance to team to ensure protection systems meet system requirements, applicable codes, and regulatory requirements; provides review and documentation to establish PGE compliance with WECC and FERC protection criteria; maintains a high level of engineering proficiency within the field of specialization and up-to -date technical knowledge of all current techniques, applicable codes, and regulations. 
• Performs complex system fault analysis to determine project relay requirements and protective relay settings and provides relay settings for new relay installations and vintage relay replacements. Provides special fault studies in support of planning, design, maintenance, or operational activities. 
• Partners with engineers to implement efficient, reliable distribution automation schemes in support of Smart Grid Initiatives; provides engineering expertise and broad support to Power Supply Engineering Services for generation plant and distributed generation protection design and settings; works with planning engineers to ensure that project plans meet system protection requirements. 
• Develops and trains other protection engineers, both regarding technical fundamentals and PGE protection criteria. 

What you need to be qualified: 

Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering. ABET accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency preferred. 
• Senior Protection Engineer experience: Five or more years in engineering, or four or more years in related field with PE license. 
• Principal Protection Engineer: Eight or more years in related field, Professional Engineering (PE) license strong preferred; may be required based upon role. 
• Protection Engineer: Two or more years in engineering.

• Valid Driver’s License required. 

Preferred skills: 

• Experience with substation relay protection 
• Effective oral and written communication skills 

• Proficiency in problem solving and analysis. 
• Skill and knowledge in specialized protection software. 
• Effective at building professional interdepartmental relationships. 
• Deal effectively with pressure of real-time problem solving. 

*PGE supports hybrid flexible work arrangements; and will have a combination of in-the-office and working offsite. However, these arrangements may change due to business needs or changes in responsibility.

#LI-SB1 #LI-Hybrid #systemprotection #relayengineer #relayprotectionengineer

*This position is a talent pipeline posting with a focus on current and future needs.  By applying to this position, you are expressing interest in current and future positions at PGE.  All applications will be reviewed on a timely basis, and you may be asked to apply to a specific job posting.

Compensation Range:

$78,075.00 - $183,000.00

Actual total compensation, including a performance based incentive bonus, is commensurate with experience, skills, qualifications, education, training, and internal equity. While we anticipate the selected candidate for this position will fall towards the middle or entry point of the compensation range, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis.

PGE believes in rewarding dedicated performance. We provide a total rewards package that is designed to reward your contributions to the company, and, at the same time, support your well-being and professional development, both now and into the future. To find out more, click here.

Join us today and power your potential!

Assisting with storms or other Company emergencies is a part of all positions at Portland General Electric.

PGE is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. PGE will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

PGE does not discriminate on the basis of disability. We recognize individuals have a variety of abilities to offer and we believe there is much to value and celebrate by incorporating different abilities into the work we do. One very important way we live this out is in our application and interview process. We work hard to support individuals who may need an accommodation to fully participate in these processes. If you feel you may need an accommodation, or would like to request one, please notify the Talent Acquisition Specialist (Recruiter) associated with the job posting. You may also make this request by contacting [email protected] or by calling 503-464-7250. The Recruiter will provide information and next steps for the accommodation process.  Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) team is also available for support.  You can contact them at [email protected].

To be considered for this position, please complete the following employment application by the posting close date.  Posting closes at midnight (Pacific Time) on the closing date below. If no date is listed, job is open until filled.