Protection & Controls Engineer

Energize your future by joining our team at Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative (NOVEC)! NOVEC's mission is to create value for its members, employees and communities by providing safe, reliable electricity and quality products at competitive prices.

NOVEC is a locally owned electric distribution system headquartered in Manassas, VA. NOVEC provides reliable electric service to more than 180,000 homes and businesses in Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford counties, the City of Manassas Park, and the Town of Clifton. NOVEC's service reliability is the best in the region with a 99.99% average system reliability.

As a leader on the high-tech frontier, NOVEC is using proven, cost-effective technology to improve productivity and reliability, reduce expenses, and increase cybersecurity – a national priority. Today’s technology includes what the industry calls "smart grid", as well as fiber optics, and mobile workforce.

We are seeking an experienced Protection & Controls Engineer to join the Engineering team at our office in Gainesville, Virginia!

The selected candidate will be eligible to work a hybrid work schedule after successfully completing an on-site introductory period (typically 6 months).

Relocation assistance is available for the successful eligible candidate.

NOVEC is unable to provide work authorization or sponsorship for this position.

Design the substation systems and relay settings used in the control and operation of utility transmission and distribution facilities. Analyze the performance of protective relay operations to ensure reliability and proper coordination of the overall electric system. Provide guidance, oversight and direction for technical services personnel for substation maintenance and installation activities. Create equipment specifications and standards for substation protection, automation, and communications equipment and oversee the operation of these systems.

Conduct engineering and operational studies and provide recommendations in order to provide safe, reliable, and economical substation plans and designs according to established cooperative guidelines. Independently evaluates, selects, and applies standard engineering techniques and procedures while using judgment when making adaptations and modifications.

Engineer protection system settings and systems. Review and approve recommended settings from SE&P engineers jointly with operations staff.

Create detailed control schematics, wiring diagrams, and protection logic drawings.

Investigate and analyze system disturbances and relay operations to determine root cause and recommend system improvements.

Develop, coordinate, update and maintain relay settings database, test standards, and maintenance procedures.

Ensure compliance with reliability policies and NERC and other industry standards and other programs such as special protection systems (SPS), and under frequency load shedding (UFLS).

Direct maintenance personnel in the installation, verification, and upgrade of substation protection, communication, and control equipment.

Support system operations group during outages and emergencies with analysis of digital fault data and relay sequence of operations review.

Develop accurate and economical substation construction drawings using computer-aided design software.

Develop requirements for the protection of facilities by preparing specifications for protective equipment, coordination studies, and switching orders as required by systems additions.

Assist other members of the department in the analysis of the electrical and telecommunication systems using computerized engineering models and business databases to design improvements and additions to the electrical system based on cost‑benefit ratio.

Review new and upgraded substation construction drawings to ensure accuracy and compliance with RUS specifications, National Electrical Safety Code Standards, local ordinances, NOVEC policies, NOVEC construction specifications, and S&T Department guidelines.

Review construction projects to ensure compliance with RUS specifications, National Electrical…