Senior Relay Technician

Client is seeking a Senior Electrical Relay Testing Technician with proven field experience and strong leadership capabilities to join our team. In this expanded role, the Senior Technician will serve as a key field leader, performing complex relay testing and commissioning work while also overseeing project execution throughout all aspects of a substation or power generation plant design or redesign, from conception to in-service.
 
The ideal candidate is technically strong, safety-focused, and capable of managing both the technical scope of projects and a team of field personnel.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Technical Responsibilities:
  • Perform advanced testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, and commissioning of protective relay systems and associated equipment in substations and power plants (medium to high voltage).
  • Develop and implement commissioning plans, test procedures, and field documentation in coordination with engineering and construction teams.
  • Analyze and interpret protective relay settings, wiring diagrams, and logic to ensure proper system operation and protection.
  • Perform and lead functional and acceptance testing of protection systems including differential, distance, overcurrent, and other schemes.
  • Provide technical expertise in the design and retrofit of protective relays and control systems.
• Project Oversight:
  • Serve as lead field representative on assigned projects.
  • Coordinate field activities, manage daily work scopes, and ensure project milestones and quality standards are met.
  • Communicate project status, issues, and progress to internal stakeholders, project managers, and clients.
• People & Team Management:
  • Supervise and mentor relay testing technicians and apprentices in the field.
  • Manage scheduling and assigning technicians to projects.
  • Provide on-the-job training and ensure consistent adherence to safety, testing, and quality standards.
  • Support career development of junior team members by providing mentorship, sharing knowledge and evaluating performance.
• Administrative & Compliance:
  • Maintain accurate and timely records of testing and maintenance activities.
  • Ensure compliance with all company policies, client specifications, and safety protocols.
  • Review and finalize as-built documentation and test reports.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of substation and power plant protection systems, relay schemes, transformer protection, metering, and control systems.
• Experience commissioning power plant and substation equipment and control systems.
• Experience with test equipment (Omicron, Doble, Megger, etc.) and software platforms related to relay testing and analysis.
• Familiarity with power transformers, instrument transformers (CTs/PTs), HV breakers and switches, battery systems, excitation systems, SEL relays, and PLC systems.
• Strong troubleshooting skills related to protection schemes, wiring errors, and control logic.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities

Preferred Technical Competencies:

• Understanding of LV power systems and associated testing procedures.
• Understanding of communication and SCADA systems and associated testing procedures.
• Understanding of ATS and MTS schemes and associated testing procedures.
• Understanding of substation and power plant protection schemes including generator protection, transformer protection, buss differential protection, line relay protection (zone and differential)

Education and Experience Requirements:

• High school diploma required; Associate’s or technical degree preferred.
• 8+ years of hands-on relay testing and commissioning experience.
• Prior field leadership or supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• NICET/NETA certification, or equivalent industry credential, preferred.

Job Location: Our main office is located in Tennessee, but this is a hybrid position with most work being conducted in the field. Candidate should live within 1 hour of a commercial airport, and be able to travel at least 75% of the time.
 
Pay and Benefits:

• Salary: $110,000 – $155,000 annually (based on education and experience)
• Annual bonus up to 25% of base salary
• Hourly pay + overtime and no annual bonus may also be considered as a compensation option
• Flexible working hours
• Medical, dental, & vision insurance
• Company-paid disability and life insurance
• Four weeks’ vacation + 7 company paid holidays
• 401k plan with company match
• Family culture
• Career growth opportunities

Client is a professional Engineering and Project Services company that operates in accordance with our core values of integrity, commitment to team, customer-focus, technical excellence, and optimism. We are a work-from-home company that has created a family-friendly culture that strives to serve our customers with excellence while creating opportunities for our people.