Substation Commissioning Engineer

Job Title:

Substation Commissioning Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on final testing, validation, and energization of substation systems across Colorado. You will play a critical part in ensuring protection and controls systems operate safely and reliably before substations are energized. The position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact project phases, gain exposure to complex protection and control systems, and follow a clear path into leadership roles in project management, field service, or operations.

Responsibilities

+ Support commissioning efforts for both greenfield and brownfield substations across Colorado.

+ Perform comprehensive protection and controls testing and validation to confirm system performance and reliability.

+ Review, execute, and document relay testing activities, including logic verification for protection schemes.

+ Apply a solid understanding of three-phase electrical systems to assess system readiness and functionality.

+ Provide final sign-off prior to energization of substations and equipment, ensuring all systems are fully operational.

+ Take ownership of final checks before energization, maintaining high attention to detail and accountability.

+ Deliver hands-on commissioning and final energization support at substation sites, resolving issues identified during testing.

+ Collaborate with project teams to support the highest-impact phase of substation projects and contribute directly to project success.

+ Work comfortably in field environments, including live, high-impact settings during the final stages of energization.

+ Participate in local and travel assignments, coordinating activities to meet project schedules and commissioning milestones.

Essential Skills

+ At least 5+ years of field experience in substation protection and controls testing.

+ Extensive hands-on experience performing substation commissioning and final energization support.

+ Strong background in protection and controls testing for substation systems.

+ Proven experience with relay testing and relay logic verification to validate protection schemes.

+ Solid understanding of three-phase electrical systems and their application in substation environments.

+ Demonstrated ability to take responsibility for final sign-off prior to energization, with high attention to detail.

+ Comfort working in field environments, including live and high-impact substation sites.

+ Willingness and ability to travel across Colorado, including trips of up to approximately two weeks at a time.

+ Ability to work primarily within the Denver Metro area while supporting projects across the state.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

+ Electrical engineering degree preferred.

+ Professional Engineer (PE) license strongly preferred.

+ Senior relay technicians with 10-15+ years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

+ Experience in relay setting development and configuration.

+ Substation design experience, particularly related to protection and controls systems.

+ Exposure to project leadership responsibilities and interest in developing into roles such as Project Manager, Field Service Manager, or Operations leadership.

+ Based in the Denver Metro area or Colorado Springs preferred.

+ Openness to relocation; relocation and sign-on bonus may be available for strong candidates.

+ Desire to work on complex protection and control systems and critical infrastructure projects.

+ Motivation to grow compensation through technical advancement and increased responsibility.

Work Environment

This is a field-based role working at substation sites across Colorado, with a mix of local assignments in the Denver Metro area and travel-based projects of up to approximately two weeks at a time. You will work in live, high-impact environments during the final stages of energization, where safety, precision, and clear communication are essential. The position offers exposure to advanced protection and controls technologies, relay systems, and critical infrastructure.

You will operate in outdoor and industrial settings typical of substations, collaborating closely with project teams and field personnel. The work schedule is driven by…