Principal Engineer- Protection & Automation Strategy- Substation

Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc.

Tempe, AZ
4 days ago

$193,500–$324,000 Per Year

Highlights

We are seeking an experienced Principal Engineer- Protection & Automation Strategy to lead the strategic direction and modernization of protection, automation, and control systems for a major utility client. This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for shaping the future of grid technology including digital substations, virtualized PAC systems, and the integration of inverter-based resources.

Numbers & Facts

Location	Tempe, AZ
Industry	Management Consulting Services
Salary	$193,500–$324,000 Per Year
Company Size	500 to 999 employees
Year Founded	1993
Website	https://www.apcinc.com/

Description

#LI-JN1 Job Title: Principal Engineer- Protection & Automation Strategy- Substation
Type: Direct Hire
Relocation Assistance provided
Work Location: Hybrid position in Tempe, AZ (2 days in office)

Job Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Principal Engineer- Protection & Automation Strategy to lead the strategic direction and modernization of protection, automation, and control systems for a major utility client.

This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for shaping the future of grid technology including digital substations, virtualized PAC systems, and the integration of inverter-based resources.

If you are passionate about substation virtualization, advanced protection systems, and leading high-impact engineering initiatives, we would like to connect.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Lead Substation Virtualization Initiatives:

Define and execute PAC strategy roadmaps including substation virtualization, and integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs).

Standards & Compliance:

Develop and maintain engineering standards and ensure compliance with NERC O&P and CIP requirements while supporting cybersecurity and vulnerability assessments.

Required Skills & Experience:

Bachelors Degree in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program or equivalent
16+ years of professional engineering experience in power systems
Deep expertise in substation and protection & control systems

Big Bonus Points if you Have:

MBA or Masters Degree in Engineering
Professional Engineering (PE) license

Substation design and protection & control engineering
Protective relay coordination and settings analysis
Power system analysis tools (ASPEN, ETAP, SKM, PSS/E, PSLF)
IEC 61850 digital substation architecture
SCADA, real-time grid control, and industrial networking
NERC O&P and CIP compliance

Emerging Technology Experience:

Virtualization and edge computing
Cloud-native architectures and containerization
Software-defined networking
Distributed energy resources (DER)
Microgrids and grid flexibility solutions
Energy storage and inverter-based resources

Job Requisition # 40141 #LI-JN1

A reasonable estimate of the Base Salary for this role is $193,500 - $324,000 per year. The disclosed pay range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case, such as skills and experience levels.

About Company

Alliance of Professionals & Consultants, Inc. (APC), is an award-winning, ISO 9001:2015 certified business in operation since 1993. Its focus is finding & placing top IT, marketing, engineering, energy, and other highly skilled talent. Additionally, APC offers a full suite of contract labor-related business solutions for mid- to large-sized companies. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, the Native American-owned company has satellite offices throughout the US, with Professionals currently engaged on assignments in 40+ US states and six countries abroad.

APC is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status.