System Protection Engineer

Overview

Come join us at Bandera Electric Cooperative (BEC) and BEC Fiber, where we are lighting the grid to empower our members! Help us Reimagine Rural America!

Bandera Electric Cooperative proudly distributes electricity to members across seven counties in Central Texas. The BECFiber division began offering 100% fiber broadband in 2017 and currently provides fiber internet service to members and subscribers in eight counties in the Texas Hill Country.

We offer Highly Competitive Wages and a Generous Benefit Package (no waiting period – benefits start on first day). Paid time off and ten paid holidays.

Our Engineering Department is looking for a System Protection Engineer who will be responsible for all relaying, control, SCADA, monitoring for all BEC facilities including transmission, substation and distribution. The Engineer will be responsible for ensuring protective devices are coordinated and optimized based on loading and fault conditions. The Engineer will work with technicians and other engineers to ensure safe operating conditions and provide annual reports and updates on reliability, guiding and assisting in the engineering activities of the Cooperative, applying technical knowledge and skills to ensure that the electrical system meets present and future requirements.

The Engineer also provides direction and guidance to colleagues and makes recommendations to management on various initiatives such as the distribution automation, advanced metering, SCADA and grid resiliency plans.

• Provide safe, efficient, and dependable services to BEC members at the lowest possible cost
• Provide overall system protection philosophy relating to equipment and asset protection. This includes protection of transmission lines, substation equipment and distribution facilities.
• Ensure that protective devices perform as designed and investigate all mis-operations of devices or improper coordination.
• Assist with project management duties to ensure the proper integration for a reliable operation of the power grid
• Provide direction, training, and guidance to coworkers and make recommendations to management
• Utilize data analysis as needed in engineering tasks

• Strong technical knowledge and skills in electrical engineering
• Knowledge of Protective Relaying systems and various protective devices used to ensure grid resiliency
• Basic knowledge of OH and UG design and construction specification
• Knowledge of smart grid initiatives, metering AMI, MDM systems, GIS systems, OMS systems, distribution equipment selection, distribution automation, distribution planning, engineering analysis model creation, distribution energy resources, and protective device coordination
• Ability to apply sound engineering judgement and make recommendations to management
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Strong attention to details
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Ability to provide direction and guidance to coworkers
• Ability to manage major engineering projects with minimal supervision

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field
• Professional Engineering (PE) License preferred

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Power Systems analysis and design engineering
• Experience with Protective Relaying Systems (SEL, GE, etc.)

Additional Requirements:

• Valid Texas Driver’s License and related insurance
• Must pass background and drug screening