Senior Engineer – Protection

JOB TITLE

Senior Engineer – Protection & Automation (Distribution Systems)

Cullerton Group has a new opportunity for a Senior Engineer – Protection & Automation in Chicago, IL or anywhere in the United States. This role is primarily remote with periodic travel for Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and onboarding. For candidates located near Chicago, there will be more frequent onsite time during the first few months. This is a permanent job. Compensation is up to $145K–$150K base salary + 10% annual incentive bonus.

OVERVIEW

Our client is a 100% employee-owned leader in electric power systems, focused on building a safer, more reliable, and more resilient electrical grid. This position supports customers from pre-sale concept through project execution, testing, and post-commissioning support.

This Senior Engineer will join the Protection & Automation Solutions team, which focuses on integrating medium-voltage switchgear with third-party Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and controllers—primarily SEL relays and automation platforms. The team owns projects end to end, from pre-sale technical support through Factory Acceptance Testing and long-term troubleshooting.

This is a highly visible, rewarding role for an experienced engineer who enjoys owning projects, working across teams, mentoring others, and seeing solutions come to life.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Provide pre-sales technical support by evaluating customer opportunities, validating solution feasibility, estimating engineering effort, and helping translate technical scope into cost and schedule
• Act as a technical lead once projects are awarded, owning execution from concept through delivery
• Review system drawings, wiring diagrams, and schematics to ensure technical accuracy and alignment with protection and automation requirements
• Develop protection settings and automation logic for distribution-level systems using SEL relays and controllers
• Program and configure relays, RTUs, and automation controllers (including SEL RTAC and Novatech Orion platforms)
• Lead and participate in Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), including customer-witnessed testing in S&C labs
• Travel periodically (typically less than 20%) for FATs and occasional onsite support
• Support field service and commissioning teams as an escalation point for complex technical issues
• Provide post-commissioning troubleshooting and long-term technical support when needed
• Create technical documentation, test plans, and engineering deliverables
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, helping raise the overall capability of the team
• Collaborate closely with sales, project managers, field service, design engineering, and senior leadership
• Represent S&C professionally and confidently with customers and internal stakeholders

Approximate time breakdown:

• 40–50% project execution and delivery
• 20–25% proposal and pre-sales engineering support
• 25–30% design review, FAT, commissioning support, and post-sales support

WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (required); PE or Master's degree is a plus
• 8–10+ years of experience in electric power systems, specifically distribution-level protection and automation
• Hands-on experience with:
• Protection relays and IEDs (SEL experience is a strong plus)
• Automation controllers, RTUs, and logic-based control systems
• Distribution automation (not transmission-focused roles)
• Ability to develop relay settings, automation logic, and configuration files—not just review them
• Familiarity with industry standards and protocols such as IEEE, IEC, NFPA, DNP3, and IEC 61850
• Experience participating in or leading FATs and working directly with customers
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts clearly
• Collaborative, team-oriented personality; mentoring mindset
• Professional, calm, and respectful demeanor—this team values positive culture and low ego
• Willingness to travel for FATs and onboarding as needed

IDEAL BACKGROUNDS

Strong candidates often come from:

• Engineering services or consulting firms
• OEM or product companies in customer-facing or systems roles
• Utilities, particularly smaller utilities or municipals, where engineers are hands-on with protection and automation

The ideal candidate understands both protection fundamentals and automation logic, with a stronger emphasis on distribution automation. A perfect "unicorn" is rare—interest and aptitude for automation are just as important as past exposure.

WHY THIS ROLE

• Highly visible role with exposure to many teams and senior leadership
• Strong sense of ownership and accomplishment seeing projects through from concept to completion
• Broad technical exposure compared to siloed engineering roles
• Supportive, collaborative team culture
• Employee-owned company with long-term stability
• Competitive compensation, bonus program, and fully covered travel expenses (corporate card, phone, meals, lodging, rental car)