ROLE OVERVIEW
About this opportunity
Lead Test Engineer
Substation Protection, Testing & Commissioning | Electric Utility Industry
Compensation: $70 to $85 per hour, depending on experience and certification level
Travel Rotation: 19 days on, 10 days off
Industry: Electric utility testing, commissioning, and field engineering services
Employment Type: Direct hire, full time
About the Opportunity
Our client is a fast growing protection and controls firm serving the electric utility industry. Their work is relay and substation protection at its core: commissioning, testing, and energizing stations to utility standards across the country. The field team is built around deep P&C knowledge, disciplined human performance, and getting protection schemes right the first time.
The company is scaling hard. They are bringing on 50 relay technicians this year across the lead, senior, and junior levels, which means real room to grow and a clear path from the field into leadership. This is a people first organization that invests in its engineers through structured career development, education assistance, and a defined growth track. If you want to lead complex protection work while building toward the next level of your career, this is a strong home.
The Role
As a Lead Test Engineer, you will own project delivery on complex substation protection and controls work. You will lead field teams, mentor technicians in protection theory and application, and act as the technical authority who signs off on testing before it reaches the client. You will also help grow the business by building client relationships and expanding the pipeline. This role blends hands on P&C leadership with project management and people development.
Leadership Responsibilities
• Lead project teams in the field and keep work moving safely and on schedule.
• Mentor team members in protection theory and application and help build training plans for direct reports.
• Contribute to performance reviews and track each engineer's training progression.
• Develop and manage project execution plans, monitor man hours, and manage change.
• Maintain project forecasts and report man hours to the Project Manager.
• Build and nurture client relationships while expanding the client pipeline.
Technical Responsibilities
• Lead complex utility projects from planning through energization.
• Review testing results from team members for accuracy before submission.
• Develop and implement project execution plans, and create human performance and safety plans.
• Apply extensive knowledge of substation protection applications.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to find and resolve design errors or gaps, and confirm corrections are implemented.
• Ensure stations operate correctly and meet client specifications, standards, and industry requirements.
Hands-On Field Work
• Independently test relay protection elements.
• Verify CT and PT ratios, phasing, polarity, and single point grounds.
• Perform fundamental control circuitry tests independently.
• Confirm station phasing and equipment orientation.
• Review and navigate project drawing packages, including one line, three line, schematic, and wiring diagrams.
• Conduct power calculations as needed.
• Develop and execute client relay test routines using Protection Suite, Test Universe, RTS, and similar tools.
• Create protection isolation plans using human performance procedures and tools.
• Develop client specific commissioning plans and procedures.
What You Bring
• Deep technical knowledge of substation protection and controls, with strong hands-on relay testing experience.
• Proven leadership and mentorship skills, with effective people management.
• Strong organization and planning ability.
• Strong communication and active listening, plus financial aptitude on project man hours and forecasts.