Senior Relay Technician

Sr Relay Technician

The Sr Relay Technician performs and supervises complex electrical testing, maintenance, commissioning, and troubleshooting of protective relays and associated control circuits in electrical power stations and substations. This role leads field activities, ensures safe and reliable operation of power system protection schemes, and serves as a technical expert and on-site lead for large and complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Drive locally and regionally on a daily basis and be available for periodic overnight travel to job sites.
• Lead safety briefings at job sites, proactively identify hazards, and implement measures to eliminate or mitigate risks.
• Apply Human Performance Error Elimination concepts and tools to improve safety and reliability in all work activities.
• Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components to ensure proper coordination and performance.
• Perform installation, commissioning, testing, and functional testing of substation control circuits associated with relay panels, transformers, and circuit breaker change-outs.
• Analyze event records and fault data to make informed deductions about system performance and relay operation.
• Develop detailed project execution plans, commissioning plans, outage sequences, and energization procedures for substation and protection projects.
• Provide project management for large-scale and complex projects, including planning, scheduling, coordination, and progress tracking.
• Train and qualify junior personnel, including Relay Technician I, Relay Technician II, and Relay Engineer I, by providing technical guidance and on-the-job instruction.
• Interact directly with customers to understand requirements, provide updates, and ensure satisfaction with project deliverables.
• Perform complex troubleshooting of protection and control systems, relays, and associated equipment in substations.
• Conduct end-to-end relay testing using relay test software and evaluate relay operation based on various fault types and test scenarios.
• Lead investigations of electrical-related issues and perform root cause analysis as needed to prevent recurrence.
• Calibrate and perform functional tests on both electromechanical and microprocessor-based protective relays used in substations.
• Function as the on-site lead for projects by assigning tasks, prioritizing activities, coordinating field crews, and interfacing with customers and other stakeholders.
• Read and fully understand protection and control schematic diagrams and wiring diagrams, identify errors or inconsistencies, and ensure compliance with accepted engineering and customer standards.
• Determine and interpret customer requirements and provide final deliverables, including as-built prints and comprehensive test results that meet specified requirements.
• Review and understand manufacturers' literature and technical documentation to plan and execute accurate relay testing and commissioning.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 6+ years of experience in the electrical power, utility, industrial, electrical contractor, or related field environment.
• Hands-on experience working with electrical systems, electrical equipment, or power distribution equipment.
• Experience with electrical testing, commissioning, or maintenance of power system equipment and protection systems.
• Proficiency in performing installation, commissioning, testing, and functional testing of substation control circuits and relay panels.
• Ability to perform end-to-end relay testing using relay test software and interpret results based on fault conditions.
• Strong capability to analyze protection schemes for power circuits and power system components.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting protection and control schematic diagrams and wiring diagrams.
• Ability to identify and correct issues in drawings and designs when compared with engineering and customer standards.
• Experience leading field crews or acting as an on-site lead for projects, including task assignment and prioritization.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for complex electrical and protection-related issues.
• Ability to develop project execution, commissioning, outage sequence, and energization procedures.
• Strong customer interaction skills, including gathering requirements and presenting final deliverables.
• Comfort working in the field approximately 95% of the time.
• NETA certification or experience equivalent to NETA certification.
• Ability to understand and apply manufacturers' technical literature for relay testing.
• Commitment to safety and familiarity with Human Performance Error Elimination concepts and tools.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regionally with periodic overnight stays.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in a data center environment is a plus.
• NETA certification at any level (Level II, III, or IV) is highly valued.
• Interest in ongoing professional development and participation in NETA certification training and preparation classes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documentation, reporting, and customer interaction.
• Ability to train and mentor less experienced technicians and engineers.
• Organizational skills to manage large and complex projects effectively.
• Comfort using relay test software and related digital tools for testing and documentation.

Work Environment

This is a field-focused role, with approximately 95% of the time spent working at electrical power stations and substations. The position is ideally based in or near Nashville, Tennessee, with openness to candidates located in Murfreesboro, Clarksville, or Cookeville, TN. The work involves daily local and regional driving, along with periodic overnight travel to various sites. The environment includes working around high-voltage equipment, protective relays, substation control circuits, transformers, and circuit breakers. The role uses modern test equipment, relay test software, laptops, and mobile devices to perform testing, commissioning, and documentation. The organization supports ongoing professional development by offering NETA certification training classes two to three times per year and provides pay increases and bonuses for achieving NETA Level II, III, and IV accreditations. Field staff receive a company vehicle and gas card, a company card for hotel stays, and per diem when traveling. The employer provides a cellphone and laptop, as well as annual allowances for work boots, prescription safety goggles if needed, and fire-retardant clothing through an approved provider. The work setting emphasizes safety, structured procedures, and adherence to industry standards while offering a supportive culture that invests in technical growth and professional advancement.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Nashville, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $60.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Nashville, TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 19, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

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