Portland General Electric · 1 month ago
Relay Protection Testing Engineer
Tualatin, Oregon
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$84K/yr - $197K/yr
2+ years expPortland General Electric is a company dedicated to advancing innovative clean energy solutions. As a Protection Testing Engineer, you will provide test and energization support for field technicians and develop protection requirements for transmission, distribution, and generation systems.
Electrical DistributionEnergyRenewable Energy
Responsibilities
Maintains currency in state-of-the-art engineering practices and independently applies professional knowledge of engineering processes and standards
Ensures QA activities are well documented and ensures proper document control to meet NERC reliability audit requirements; gathers data and provides documentation review 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
Analyzes and performs technical studies; reviews work performed by other engineers; contributes to operational assessments of system disturbances
Works with protection and automation engineers to develop testing plans for protection and control systems which identify physical safety barriers, electronic safety barriers, interconnected control systems to be tested, and best testing practices to reduce system risk. Ensures control systems efficiently check schemes by eliminating duplications while ensuring compliance to WECC standards. Coordinates development of postconstruction QA checklist; provides engineering support to operations personnel for switching and load restoration activities
Assigns tasks and coordinates with other internal/external team members as directed on less complex projects; shares information and provides professional guidance in executing project tasks. Coordinates projects with outside entities including PGE System Control Center, other interconnected utilities, major customers through key customer managers and other PGE departments. Partners with construction engineers to develop high level sequenced construction plan with major shutdown requirements; provides engineering expertise to construction crews on design and construction issues (e.g., constructability reviews, design philosophy, design additions or changes during construction, equipment integration). Provides engineering expertise to overall project management (construction engineer and crews) with scope changes
Shares current knowledge of latest technology and processes; may assist with mentoring, recognition and any corrective actions required. Participates in delivering technical training to substation wiremen and technicians; supports Meter/Relay/SCADA technicians with design issues and changing technologies
Maintains currency in state-of-the-art engineering practices and provides guidance and direction on engineering processes and standards to colleagues when requested
Ensures QA activities are well documented. Identifies and implements improvements and ensures proper document control to meet NERC reliability audit requirements. Provides input on control and protection design standards and criteria; gathers data and provides documentation review to establish PGE compliance with WECC and FERC protection criteria
Analyzes and performs technical studies, prepares reports and provides solutions to complex technical matters; reviews work performed by other engineers; contributes substantially to operational assessments of system disturbances, including Root Cause Analysis
Works with and is an authoritative resource to protection and automation engineers to develop testing plans for complex control systems which identify physical safety barriers, electronic safety barriers, interconnected control systems to be tested, and best testing practices to reduce system risk. Ensures control systems efficiently check schemes by eliminating duplications while ensuring compliance to WECC standards. Leads development of postconstruction QA checklist; provides engineering expertise to operations personnel for switching and load restoration activities
Coordinates complex projects with outside entities including PGE System Control Center, other interconnected utilities, major customers through key customer managers, and other PGE departments. Partners with construction engineers to develop high level sequenced construction plan on complex projects with major shutdown requirements including switching and energization plans; provides engineering expertise and broad support to construction crews on complex design and construction issues (e.g., constructability reviews, design philosophy, design additions or changes during construction, equipment integration). Supports overall project management (construction engineer and crews) with scope changes
Identifies training and testing requirements for new and complex control systems; delivers technical training to substation wiremen and technicians and supports Meter/Relay/SCADA technicians with a wide range of design issues and changing technologies
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in engineering. Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering preferred. ABET accredited engineering program or program accredited by an equivalent agency
Typically, 2 or more years in engineering
Valid Driver's License required
Typically, five or more years in engineering, or four or more years in related field with PE license
Preferred
Experience with substation relay functions
Effective oral and written communications skills
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
Skill and knowledge of electrical utility infrastructure construction and testing practices
Effective at building professional interdepartmental relationships
Experience commissioning substation protection equipment is preferred
Deal effectively with pressure of real-time problem solving
Benefits
Performance based incentive bonus
Total rewards package
Company
Portland General Electric
Portland General Electric (PGE) is a vertically integrated electric utility engaged in the generation, purchase, transmission.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Portland General Electric has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (30)
2024 (24)
2023 (13)
2022 (26)
2021 (26)
2020 (17)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$379.5MKey Investors
US Department of Energy
2023-05-10Grant· $4.5M
2022-10-25Post Ipo Equity· $375M
2006-04-03IPO
Leadership Team
Maria Pope
President and Chief Executive Officer
Joseph Trpik
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2025-12-09
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