Sr. Relay Technician

Position Overview

The Senior Relay Technician is directly responsible for executing facility maintenance, testing, and commissioning activities in high‑voltage transmission substations in the Big Spring, TX area, supporting work in the Midland, Big Spring, Dickens, and Gail areas. The role emphasizes Protection & Control (P&C) and protective relaying testing; extensive substation apparatus experience is also preferred. Technicians will perform system equipment repair, provide technical assistance, respond to system events, oversee contractors, and help train junior employees.

• Perform or oversee installation, maintenance, testing, troubleshooting, adjusting, wiring, repairs, and switching of relay and substation equipment.
• Perform SCADA checkouts and troubleshoot issues.
• Lead internal and contract crews in testing and commissioning activities.
• Conduct diagnostic testing and analyze results for protection and control systems and substation equipment.
• Occasionally operate equipment such as bucket trucks, aerial lifts, skid steers, and forklifts.
• Maintain company vehicles, tools, and test equipment.
• Prepare and verify routine reports.
• Champion compliance with WETT safety, reliability compliance, and environmental policies.
• Interface professionally with contractors, engineers, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Assist in scheduling and planning routine and restorative work.
• Lead efforts to document work and compliance obligations in the work order program/asset database.
• Participate in an on‑call rotation.

• Education
  • High School Diploma required;
    Associate or bachelor’s degree in engineering or engineering technology is preferred but not required.
• Skills and Experience
  • Minimum 10 years of work experience in substation protection and control maintenance required.
  • Familiar with ERCOT nodal protocols and operating guides.
  • Experience with NERC compliance reporting and documentation requirements.
  • Experience with substation equipment (breakers, transformers, switches).
  • Extensive experience with protection and control equipment (SEL/GE relays, RTUs).
  • Knowledge of industry‑standard maintenance practices, applicable codes, and safety regulations.
  • Experience in commissioning activities/construction of high‑voltage stations.
  • Experience overseeing contractors and ensuring proper reporting and archiving.
  • Ability to ensure OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory compliance.
  • Experience with large power transformers and reactors.
  • Experience performing complex station switching.
  • Ability to take oil samples for DGA analysis and interpret results.
  • Curious attitude with a focus on safety.
  • Proficient in reading electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and relay logic.
  • Extensive knowledge of SEL and GE relay equipment, logic and software.
  • Proficiency with SCADA protocols such as SEL Fast Message, MODBUS and DNP
    3.
• Certificates & Licenses
  • Thermography Level I or II preferred.
  • Coursework or relevant training preferred (e.g., OSHA 30, NESC, NETA, SEL University).
• Computer Skills
  • Proficiency with test software (Doble RTS, Protection Suite, Omicron Test Universe).
  • Microsoft Office (Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).
• Competencies
  • Understanding of NERC CIP, PRC, and FAC standards.
  • Good communication using email, presentation, and verbal methods.
  • Organization of information, tasks, communications, and data.
  • Documentation and tracking of critical information.
  • Work and resource planning/scheduling.
  • Electrical schematic and control/protection circuit interpretation.
  • Understanding of AC/DC diagrams.
  • Understanding of protective relaying schemes and their applications.
  • Solid understanding of GE and SEL relay logic.
  • Understanding of RTU and SCADA systems.
  • Knowledge in test software such as Doble RTS and Protection Suite.
  • Understand DNP3, SEL Fast Message, Modbus protocols.
  • Ability to interpret equipment tests and results.
  • Ability to understand one‑line, three‑line AC/DC schemes, and connection diagrams.
  • Ability to use prints, manuals, test data to resolve system issues safely.
  • Ability to troubleshoot fiber optic communication networks.
  • Understanding of instrument transformers.
  • Familiar with…