Protection & Controls Technician

The Protection & Controls Technician supports protection, controls, and substation-related maintenance activities at the Tallgrass Cheyenne Energy Center, an off-grid, large-scale AI-dedicated critical power generation campus planned to produce approximately 2.5 GW of initial capacity, with expansion capability up to 10 GW.

The Protection & Controls Technician supports protection, controls, and substation-related maintenance activities at the Tallgrass Cheyenne Energy Center, an off-grid, large-scale AI-dedicated critical power generation campus planned to produce approximately 2.5 GW of initial capacity, with expansion capability up to 10 GW. This role serves as a technical liaison between Tallgrass supervision and third-party contractors performing protection and controls work. The position provides field coordination, technical review, documentation support, and advisory input to help ensure work is performed safely, reliably, and in accordance with site standards, applicable procedures, and compliance requirements.

The role is also not intended to perform hands-on maintenance, testing, or repair work. Instead, the Protection & Controls Technician provides technical interface, work oversight support, and communication between contractors, vendors, engineering resources, operations, and the Tallgrass Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls Supervisor.

• Serve as a technical point of contact between protection and controls contractors and the Tallgrass Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls Supervisor.
• Provide advisory support during contractor-performed testing, maintenance, troubleshooting, and commissioning activities involving protection and controls systems.
• Review contractor work plans, test procedures, switching-related documentation, and field execution approaches for alignment with site expectations and applicable standards.
• Support coordination of protection and controls work associated with substations, switch gear, protective relays, control circuits, breaker systems, CTs, VTs, and related electrical equipment.
• Monitor contractor activities in the field and communicate status, risks, issues, and deviations to the Tallgrass supervisor.
• Assist in validating that contractor-performed work is documented accurately and that required test records, reports, and maintenance documentation are completed and submitted.
• Provide technical input related to protective relay systems, substation equipment, trip circuits, control wiring, lockout relays, and power plant electrical interfaces.
• Support review and coordination of relay settings, event records, fault data, and contractor-generated findings as directed by the Tallgrass supervisor.
• Act as an intermediate communication resource between Tallgrass, contractors, OEM representatives, engineering support, and automation providers.
• Support coordination of DCS, PLC, and protection/control interface activities with Emerson and other approved service providers.
• Assist with outage planning, contractor coordination, work package review, and execution tracking for protection, controls, and substation-related activities.
• Support safe energization, synchronization, and electrical switching activities by assisting with documentation, coordination, and communication.
• Assist with NERC PRC-related documentation, testing coordination, recordkeeping, and compliance support, as applicable.
• Identify field issues, documentation gaps, or execution concerns and elevate them to the appropriate Tallgrass supervisor or responsible authority.
• Participate in site safety programs and help reinforce compliance with Tallgrass safety expectations while contractors are performing work.

• Direct supervision of employees or contractors.
• Formal approval authority unless specifically delegated by Tallgrass management.
• Hands‑on maintenance, testing, repair, or calibration of electrical equipment.
• Performing contractor work on behalf of vendors or service providers.
• Taking ownership of engineering design decisions unless assigned through established Tallgrass processes.

• Associate degree in Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation, Power Systems, or a related technical field; equivalent industry experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience supporting protection and controls, substation maintenance, power generation electrical systems, or related industrial power systems.
• Demonstrated substation experience, including familiarity with…