Protection and Control Design Engineer

JOB TITLE: Protection and Control Design Engineer
REQUISTION: TRA00UT
DEPARTMENT: Substation Protection & Control - Wichita Service Center or Topeka General Office
LOCATION: Wichita, KS
Topeka, KS
PAY GRADE: (Min-Mid-Max)
Engineer I: $64,100 - $80,100 - $96,100
Engineer II: $78,200 - $97,800 - $117,400
Staff Engineer: $87,400 - $109,300 - $131,200
Sr Engineer: $88,500 - $118,000 - $147,500
Lead Engineer: $104,200 - $138,900 - $173,600
Principal Engineer: $108,700 - $144,900 - $181,100

Scheduled Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Other hours as required)

Position Overview:
Under the direction of the Manager, Protection and Control Engineering performs various technical studies and engineering designs to ensure the appropriate controls systems and protection schemes are utilized on the company's electric grid. The team works closely with other Technical Operations groups, Electric Distribution Engineering, System Planning, Generation Services, and Marketing in assisting with a wide variety of technical issues. The group assists in troubleshooting any protection challenges that appear. Initial duties will include familiarization with the engineering documents and drawings.
Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
* Design protective relay systems, metering, and SCADA by referencing standards, past projects, new research, regulations, and system requirements in order to ensure reliability and safety
* Perform design relating to the company's electric substations, transmission lines, and generation equipment that ensures the proper controls systems and fault protection schemes
* Specify substation protective equipment based on required schemes and standards
* Familiar with specifying substation equipment using substation ratings (e.g., bus, ground mat, switches, power circuit breakers, transformers, relay panels, instrumentation, capacitor banks, reactor banks) to ensure the system is reliable
* Gather and analyze system ratings (e.g., voltage, power ratings, ampacity, system impedance, CT ratios, and relay settings) by researching substation current conditions and configurations to provide data to reporting agencies (i.e., SPP, NERC, FERC) and meet new system requirements
* Develop relay one-line diagrams by utilizing relevant information specified by other groups and standards
* Produce detailed system protection and control project scopes and cost estimates to assist in multi-year projects and budget planning by using data from previous projects, bids, and research in order to ensure accuracy and completion of tasks on time and on budget
* Support both operations and construction personnel as needed in troubleshooting, failure analysis, mis-operations, testing assistance, commissioning assistance, and other technical duties by analyzing data and providing findings in order to resolve problems (e.g., equipment failures, construction issues, drawings, event reports)
* Prepare and study technical drawings and specifications of protection systems and equipment to ensure that installation and operations conform to requirements (e.g., Company, protection, code)
* Create alternative system designs by utilizing engineering principles, knowledge, and experience in order to improve system performance
* Direct designers and technicians by reviewing work and monitoring progress in order to ensure compliance with safety and regulations
* Act as a technical resource for internal customers by answering questions and providing information in order to support Company projects
* Visit project sites to collect design information, troubleshoot, and ensure project commissioning

Education and Experience:

Requires a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from an ABET accredited program. The preferred candidate will have utility experience directly related to electric substation, generation, and transmission line equipment control and fault protection systems.
* Engineer I - Bachelor's Degree in Engineering
* Engineer II - 2 or more years of engineering experience
* Staff Engineer - 4 or more years of engineering experience
* Sr Engineer - Typically possesses 8 or more years of engineering experience and an active member of a recognized industry committee or published in recognized technical journals or at minimum has two related career experiences or clearly demonstrated team leadership abilities on critical projects.
* Lead Engineer - Typically possesses 12 or more years of engineering experience, demonstrate specialized expertise in key areas and meet requirements of Sr. Engineer. Professional Engineer Licensed preferred.
* Principal Engineer - Typically possesses 20 or more years of engineering experience in a specific area of engineering. Must meet Lead Engineering requirements.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
A successful candidate needs knowledge of basic engineering principles and advanced mathematics. The highly required knowledge and skills in electric power engineering including:
* Understanding of schematic, wiring, and connection diagrams
* Knowledgeable of the different zones of protection schemes within a substation
* Ability to develop elementary schematic drawings and wiring connection prints using design principles
* Knowledge of fault analyses studies, power system per unit calculations, relay settings calculations, and protective relay settings files, is preferred
* Ability to read and develop the logic diagrams for protective relays
* Having experience using ASPEN One-Liner or an equivalent fault analysis software, is preferred
* Experience utilizing communication relay schemes, such as directional carrier blocking and permissive overreach transfer trip, is preferred
* Ability to perform coordination studies for various voltage levels, is preferred
* Requires the ability to learn major power systems in a timely fashion
* Awareness of Transmission, Distribution, and Generation system relays and associated protection schemes.
* Knowledge of NERC system protection standards, is preferred
* Must be dependable, self-motivated, and detail-oriented while having excellent organizational and proofreading skills
* Must possess the ability to work and communicate effectively with other company personnel
* Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
* Must be able to handle multiple priorities while operating efficiently and effectively in high stress environment

Licenses, Certification, Bonding and/or Testing:
Valid driver's license required. Professional Engineering registration is desirable but not required.

Working Conditions:
Most work is performed in an office setting. Requires some field work within energized substations, operating powerplants, utility right-of-ways, and construction sites in general. Position may require routine travel between the general offices in Topeka, KS and in Wichita, KS. Some work might be required beyond normal working hours depending on workload, project deadlines, and service restoration efforts. Must have a satisfactory work record including good attendance.

Evergy has a clear mission - To empower a better future. Evergy chooses to live this mission by valuing People First. We know that to lead the responsible energy transition and provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable service to our customers and communities, we need a team with a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. So, our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We are committed to celebrating diversity and building a team where everyone - regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status - has a voice and can bring their best every day. We know that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the better we will be. Evergy is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.