Senior Protection & Control (Relay) Technician | Union

Senior Protection & Control (Relay) Technician

At Asplundh Electrical Testing, safety is not just a priorityit is our foundation. We are experiencing strong growth and are immediately hiring experienced Senior Protection & Control (Relay) Technicians to join our field engineering and testing team.

In this role, you will serve as a technical lead in the field, ensuring the safe and reliable operation of medium- and high-voltage (5kV500kV) utility substations, renewable energy interconnects, and data center power systems. You will lead crews through complex outage work, perform end-to-end protective relay testing and commissioning, and reinforce Asplundhs reputation for technical precision and safety excellence.

As a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering organization, Asplundh Electrical Testing sets the industry benchmark across utility, industrial, and critical infrastructure sectors.

What Youll Do

• Lead Field Safety: Conduct daily job briefings and safety tailboards, enforcing Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures, energized work practices, and a "Safety First, Always" culture.
• Protective Relay Testing & Commissioning: Perform acceptance testing, maintenance testing, calibration, and troubleshooting on electromechanical and microprocessor-based protective relays.
• Validate Protection Schemes: Test and verify complex transmission and distribution protection schemes, including:
• Line distance, line differential, transformer differential, and bus differential protection
• Overcurrent, breaker failure, reclosing, and sync-check schemes
• Substation Apparatus & Control Verification: Verify AC/DC control circuits, trip checks, and functional testing for power transformers, medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers, switchgear, feeder relays, capacitor banks, and reactors.
• Outage & Energization Support: Support outage planning, switching coordination, cutover execution, substation energization, and system restoration activities.
• Diagnostics & Event Analysis: Perform fault and disturbance investigations, relay target reviews, and oscillography/event file analysis.
• Technical Leadership & Client Coordination: Mentor and train junior relay technicians; coordinate field execution with project managers, system operators, and utility engineers.
• Documentation & Estimating: Generate accurate commissioning test reports, as-left relay settings documentation, and redline drawings; participate in job walks and project scoping.

What You Bring

• Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience in protective relaying, substation commissioning, or protection and control (P&C) testing for electric utilities or NETA-accredited testing firms.
• Voltage Class Expertise: Demonstrated experience testing medium-voltage and high-voltage (5kV to 500kV) transmission and distribution systems.
• Relay & Test Equipment Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of microprocessor relays (such as Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories / SEL, GE Multilin, ABB, Siemens, Basler) and automated relay test sets (such as Omicron, Doble, Megger / MPRT).
• Substation Communications: Familiarity with RTUs, SCADA point-to-point checkout, and substation communication protocols (e.g., IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus).
• Print Reading: Ability to interpret single-line diagrams, three-line diagrams, protection schematics, AC/DC control schematics, wiring diagrams, and relay logic.
• Physical & Travel Requirements: Valid drivers license with a clean driving record; ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions, travel regionally (with occasional extended assignments), and lift up to 70 lbs.

Education & Credentials

• NETA Certification: NETA Level III or NETA Level IV Certified Technician strongly preferred for Senior roles (Note: NETA Level II technicians and experienced protection & control technicians are also encouraged to apply for opportunities across our team).
• Education: Associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology (EET), power systems technical degree, IBEW/utility apprenticeship, or military electrical/power generation training.
• Safety Certifications: OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 certification, NFPA 70E training, and First Aid/CPR.

Why Join Asplundh Electrical Testing?

• Company Vehicle: Provided for regional work-related travel.
• Career Growth: Work on high-profile utility, data center, and renewable energy projects with clear pathways for NETA certification advancement.
• Stability & Safety: Backed by the resources and safety-first culture of an industry leader.

What We Offer

At Asplundh Electrical Testing, we invest in the well-being of our people. Eligible employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their health, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plan to help you secure your future
• Company-provided life insurance for added peace of mind
• Supplemental life insurance options, including spouse and child coverage
• A variety of voluntary supplemental insurance programs
• Long-term disability coverage
• Pre-paid legal plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support personal and professional well-being
• Paid time off to recharge and refresh
• Paid holidays
• Access to employee discount programs and helpful resources

*Benefits listed above are available to eligible employees. Eligibility requirements and plan provisions apply

Important Information for Applicants:

• Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC and its family of companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any legally protected characteristic.
• If you require reasonable accommodation during the application or hiring process, please contact our ADA Coordinator at View phone number on click.appcast.io.
• Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre-employment requirements, which include background screening, drug testing, and employment eligibility verification.
• Compensation determination is based on market data, job scope and individual qualifications.
• We offer a competitive total rewards package inclusive of health and welfare and retirement benefits, as well as paid time off and holiday pay benefits.
• Unsolicited resumes without an executed agency agreement become the property of the company.