Relay Engineer/Technician III/IV

OVERVIEW

This role is responsible for the programming, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, and installation of protection control devices within the REC territory. This includes the Cooperative’s transmission, substation, and distribution assets. This work requires an understanding of power systems, transformers, protective relaying, and electrical engineering principles.

The role will be filled at the appropriate level— III, or IV—based on the candidate’s education and relevant experience.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

- Perform maintenance including routine cleaning, calibration, and functional operational testing of all electro-mechanical and microprocessor protection relays within the Cooperative’s System.

- Ensure that all appropriate compliance maintenance activities and associated documentation are managed and maintained.

- Analyze alarms and troubleshoot problems to allow corrective maintenance to be performed safely.

- Perform protective relay and control circuit troubleshooting and repairs as needed.

- Coordinate with Engineering Planning to determine relay settings and develop programming accordingly.

- Other duties assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates will have a four-year engineering degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical Engineering Technology from an ABET certified program required. An equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered. An Engineer-In-Training Certificate (EIT) is desired. Six to Nine years of experience in utility relay and protection systems. Knowledge of the operation of utility power systems, substation and transmission protective relaying design, relay testing, and protective coordination is required. Experience in substation and transmission operations, construction, and project management is desired.

Candidate will have knowledge of 3-phase power systems, AC/DC Protection & Control Schemes and Fault Analysis. Must be or become familiar with the installation, maintenance, and operation of all relays as well as protective equipment, all control circuits and equipment, transformer controls, and other related equipment in transmission, substation, and distribution systems owned or serviced by the Cooperative. Must be or become familiar with test equipment such as voltmeters, ammeters, ohmmeters, communications instruments, and computerized relay test sets. Must be or become familiar with electromechanical, solid-state, and microprocessor-based relaying. Must be or become familiar with relay protection schemes, relay logic, relay settings and coordination. Must be or become familiar with testing plans, various relay testing software for implementation, and utilize them together either in the field or bench testing. Able to read and interpret Substation and Control prints.

Most work will be done at the Fredericksburg office with some at district offices or in the field under any weather conditions. Must travel to various locations throughout the system to complete many work assignments. Occasional travel for training will be required. In cases of outages or emergencies, work availability may be 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.