Substation Relay Electrical Engineer (Open to major service locations in Montana)

Substation Relay Electrical Engineer

Work Location: Open to major service locations in Montana

Pay range: $61,400 to $132,100

Employment Status: Regular Full-time

External candidates apply at northwesternenergy.com

Internal candidates apply through iConnect.

About this position:

The Relay Engineer is responsible to design protective systems associated with new projects and field manage new project relay construction activities. Responsibilities also include setting and design review on new and existing systems and perform work associated with NERC compliance.

We offer great benefits:

NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ 1,500 amazing people and serve 753,600 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:

• 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%
• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Programs (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents to include financial heath)
• Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)
• Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities
• Paid parental leave
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid training opportunities
• Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

About this job:

• Develop or modify protective relay test procedures that meet the NERC/WECC requirements
• Complete annual and quarterly Substation Operations regulatory compliance tasks
• Design protective relay systems to include electrical drawings and calculation of relay settings.
• Review protective relay operations to ensure correct operation, diagnose and correct issues as required.
• Perform fault studies to validate system performance and verify accuracy of relay settings.
• Estimate, forecast, and schedule capital work
• Document all testing procedures and results for regulatory/internal audits
• Develop construction standards and estimate tools to support consistent and efficient design
• Coordinate with project teams including substation, transmission, relaying, and communications
• Provide quality control of designed and constructed projects
• Provide on-site technical assistance as needed
• Integrate departmental procedures and practices into the corporate enterprise system
• Use of safe work practices in the design, construction, and maintenance facilities
• Travel to jobsite, trainings, and seminars (up to 30% travel per year)
• Work overtime including evenings and weekends in response to acute service needs
• Perform individual lifts of supplies and materials weighing up to 35 pounds
• Support the Substation/Relay Operations Management team with development and execution of annual work plans
• Serve in a capacity as project engineer to insure budget and schedules are met for construction and maintenance activities requiring initiative and sound judgment
• Perform on-call duties to provide support for relay/substation field staff
• Provide backup for Supervisors and Engineers during periods of leave
• All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics
• Ensure all actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives

Am I right for this job? Here's the success profile:

• Demonstrate and maintain a good safety record
• Must have a B.S. degree in Engineering (Electrical is preferred)
• Ability to obtain a Professional Engineer's License preferred
• Excellent computer skills and proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Working knowledge of Substation and Relay databases
• Strong knowledge of protective relay settings required.
• Experience using short circuit modeling programs required.
• Familiarity with NERC Standards PRC-023 and PRC-027 is preferred.
• Good understanding of electric power systems and electric circuit analysis techniques
• Good understanding of microprocessor based protective relays is preferred
• Good working knowledge of NESC, NERC, FERC, and WECC guidelines
• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record

Requisition 3966

Posting Dates: March 14, 2023 through Open Until Filled

Department/Division: Transmission

Employment Physical: Required

Drug Test: Required

Background Check: Required

Relocation Benefit: Negotiable

Telecommuting: Part-time within NorthWestern energy service territory negotiable

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and statutes. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department at 1-800-245-6977 or at job.inquiries@northwestern.com.