Substation Relay Engineer

Work Location: Butte, MT

Pay range: $85,000 to $139,300 per year (for a more detailed pay range please see below)

Substation Relay Engineer I - Starting Range: $85,000 - $97,200

Substation Relay Engineer II - Starting Range: $92,900 - $111,500

Substation Relay Engineer III - Starting Range: $104,500 - $125,400

Substation Relay Engineer IV - Starting Range: $116,100 - $139,300

Employment Status: Regular Full-Time

External candidates apply at northwesternenergy.com

Internal candidates apply through iConnect.

About this position:

The Relay Engineer will design, test and maintain relay protection systems for electrical power systems. Responsibilities include developing protective relay settings, conducting coordination studies, collaborating with engineering teams, troubleshooting relay malfunctions, and participating in commissioning activities. Requires a strong background in electrical engineering, expertise in relay technologies, and a commitment to safety and reliability standards associated with NERC compliance.

We offer great benefits:

NorthWestern Energy is a fully regulated electric and natural gas utility serving Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. We employ over 1,500 amazing people and serve 775,300 customers who are our neighbors in our communities. We are a top employer and offer competitive benefits, including:

• 401K with company match up to 4% and non-elective contribution up to 7%


• Healthcare and wellbeing programs, including dental and vision for you, your spouse and dependents, Health Savings Account (HSA), healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account (FSA)


• Employee Assistance Programs (Offering up to six free counseling sessions, per person, per issue, per year for employees, spouses and dependents to include financial heath)


• Life Insurance (Company pays basic employee policy; spouse, dependent insurance also available)


• Tuition reimbursement


• Competitive pay (Scheduled performance-based wage increases and annual incentive opportunities.)


• Paid company endorsed volunteer opportunities


• Paid parental leave


• Paid bereavement leave


• Paid training opportunities


• Paid time off starting on your first day, plus 11 paid holidays

Benefits may vary by position or as negotiated as part of a collective bargaining agreement.

About this job:

• Develop or modify protective relay test procedures that meet the NERC/WECC requirements


• Complete annual and quarterly Substation Operations regulatory compliance tasks


• Review the results of the relay tests and determine solutions for failed results


• Perform fault studies, conduct fault tests and evaluate test reports to validate system operation and performance


• Document all testing procedures and results for regulatory/internal audits


• Develop construction standards and estimate tools to support consistent and efficient design


• Coordinate with project teams including substation, transmission, relaying and communications


• Provide quality control of designed and constructed projects


• Provide on-site technical assistance as needed


• Use of safe work practices in the design, construction and maintenance facilities


• Travel to jobsites, off-site meetings, and trainings (up to 30% travel per year) including overnight stays when necessary


• Work extended hours as required


• Support the Substations/Relay Operations Management team with development and execution of annual work plans


• Serve in a capacity as project engineer to insure budget and schedules are met for construction and maintenance activities requiring initiative and sound judgement


• Participate in an On- Call rotation, after-hours duties, periodically, for one week at a time; this includes response to emergency situations and calling personnel out for after-hours activities


• Provide backup for Supervisors and Engineers during periods of leave


• All NorthWestern Energy employees are required to adhere to company safety standards and the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics


• Ensure self and others' actions are consistent with NorthWestern Energy's values, mission, and strategic business objectives

Am I right for this job? Here's the success profile:

• Must have a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or a similar field of study


• A Professional Engineer's License is preferred, or the ability to obtain one
  
  
  
  • Recent and upcoming graduates encouraged to apply
  
  
  
  


• Excellent computer skills and proficient in Microsoft Office Suite


• Working knowledge of Substation and Relay databases preferred


• Good understanding of electric power systems and electric circuit analysis techniques


• Good understanding of microprocessor-based equipment and logic design, preferred


• Good working knowledge of NESC, NERC, FERC and WECC guidelines preferred


• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record


• Demonstrate and maintain a good safety record

Substation Relay Engineer I - Starting Range: $85,000 - $97,200

Entry Level position - Bachelor's degree in engineering required for all levels. Electrical preferred. Produce basic designs utilizing existing procedures and standards; applying modifications as directed. Responsibilities include assisting in developing relay construction drawings, developing protective relay settings and conducting coordination studies and other activities.

Substation Relay Engineer II - Starting Range: $92,900 - $111,500

Intermediate Working knowledge to produce conventional designs and deliverables of limited complexity; independently applying modifications for which precedents are generally established. Effectively manage projects of limited scope; accurately adjusting scope, schedule and budget as variances occur. Independently develop relay construction drawings, protective relay settings. Proficient in independently analyzing/troubleshooting relay malfunctions and supporting commissioning activities. Pursuit of PE expected.

Substation Relay Engineer III - Starting Range: $104,500 - $125,400

Advanced skills in relay event analysis and event and analysis software. Expertise in electrical drawings, protective relay settings calculations and analysis and relay setting coordination studies. Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills and ability to mentor/train junior engineers effectively. PE preferred.

Substation Relay Engineer IV - Starting Range: $116,100 - $139,300

May include an advanced degree and PE preferred and may be required for certain positions. Technical relay leadership experience and improving and driving relay processes and standards. In-depth expert on operational and compliance requirements and processes. Strong strategic planning skills to align relay design and implementation with organizational objectives. Produce designs and deliverables of advanced complexity and perform peer review of colleagues' work and or those engineers who have a Professional License stamps engineering deliverables in a technical discipline. Advanced level technical skills including comprehensive system design, configuration, and management. PE strongly preferred.

Requisition #4593

Posting Dates: February 14, 2025 through Open Until Filled

Department/Division: Distribution Operations: Substation Operations: Relay Engineering

Employment Physical: Required

Drug Test: Required

Background Check: Required

Relocation Benefit: Negotiable

Telecommuting: Part-time Negotiable within NorthWestern Energy Service Territory

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other protected class in accordance with applicable federal or state laws and statutes. In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act, should you have a disability that requires assistance and/or reasonable accommodation with the job application process, please contact the Human Resources department at 1-800-245-6977 or at [email protected].