Relay Technician

Relay Technician

We are seeking motivated Relay Technicians to support utility substation testing, commissioning, and protection & control (P&C) projects throughout Virginia, Maryland, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with a significant concentration of work in Northern Virginia. This role provides the opportunity to work on major utility infrastructure projects driven by rapid data center expansion while developing advanced technical expertise in relay testing, commissioning, and power system protection.

Whether you are an experienced Relay Technician or a developing Mid-Level Relay Technician, this position offers long-term project stability, structured training, and a clear path for career growth.

• Perform protective relay testing and commissioning for transmission, distribution, and generation facilities.
• Execute functional, acceptance, maintenance, and end-to-end testing of protection and control systems.
• Verify protection schemes, relay settings, control circuits, and relay logic during commissioning activities.
• Support the startup, energization, and successful operation of substation protection systems.

• Diagnose and resolve issues within relay and protection systems by identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Review and interpret protection and control drawings, wiring diagrams, one-line diagrams, relay schematics, and logic diagrams.
• Provide technical support during outages, system cutovers, maintenance activities, and energization events.
• Ensure protection systems perform as intended and comply with utility requirements.

• Support utility substation projects involving testing, commissioning, maintenance, and modernization of protection and control systems.
• Collaborate with project teams to safely execute testing activities in accordance with utility standards and industry best practices.
• Utilize testing equipment and software platforms, including OMICRON and similar relay testing systems, for verification and diagnostics.
• Travel throughout the region to support ongoing infrastructure improvement projects.

• Senior Relay Technicians may independently lead testing and commissioning activities, oversee project execution, and mentor junior technicians.
• Mid-Level Relay Technicians will work closely with experienced relay professionals while continuing to develop toward independent project leadership.
• Participate in technical training and professional development programs designed to support career advancement.

• Approximately 2 to 5 years of hands-on experience in relay testing and protection & controls.

• 5 to 7+ years of relay and protection & controls experience, including utility-focused substation work.

• Experience performing functional, maintenance, acceptance, and end-to-end relay testing.
• Knowledge of relay commissioning, including verification of protection schemes, relay settings, control circuits, and logic functions.
• Strong understanding of protection and control systems and utility protection schemes.
• Experience working within transmission substations, distribution substations, and/or power generation facilities.
• Ability to troubleshoot relay and protection systems in field environments.
• Proficiency reading electrical drawings, relay schematics, wiring diagrams, one-line diagrams, and protection & control documentation.
• Experience using OMICRON or equivalent relay testing equipment.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a project team, depending on experience level.
• Willingness and ability to travel regionally as project needs require.

• Experience working for utilities, EPC firms, testing and commissioning organizations, utility contractors, or substation service providers.
• Familiarity with SEL, ABB, Siemens, and GE relay platforms.
• OSHA 10, OSHA 30, or related safety certifications.
• Knowledge of SCADA systems and fiber communications within utility substations.
• Experience supporting large utility programs such as Dominion Energy, Duke Energy, or…