Lead Protection Engineer

Overview

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee‑owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well‑established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee‑owned with 40+ years of industry history
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

We have a Lead Protection Engineer opportunity available in Nashville, TN. The Lead Engineer performs relay setting calculations and coordination studies with full technical autonomy, working independently and capable of directing the technical work of others on assigned projects. Event analysis is a Lead Engineer function; this role owns the majority of that work directly and coordinates support from other engineers as needed.

Within the group, the Lead Engineer serves as the primary technical resource within assigned projects, escalating issues to the Principal when warranted. The Lead Engineer is responsible for leading and performing technical work on projects as assigned by the PAC Engineering Manager. The Lead Engineer is also responsible for communicating proactively if a project schedule is unclear, unrealistic, or at risk, ensuring any concerns are communicated proactively.

Major Responsibilities This position requires the Lead Protection Engineer to provide relay settings, event analysis, system studies services, and engineering consulting services to electric utility companies. System scope encompasses Transmission, Generation, and Distribution systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Drawing Review – Evaluation of specification and engineering drawings to understand the purpose and functionality of substations, generation facilities, or distribution feeders.
• Event Analysis – Provide comprehensive reporting on analysis findings and recommendations for mis‑operation mitigation.
• Design Review – Provide redline markups for protection and control drawings as necessary pertaining to protection systems.
• Leadership of projects and direction of subordinate engineers assigned to such projects.
• Performance of compliance related work as assigned by principal engineer.
• Development and continuous preservation of strong working relationships with customers by demonstrating an awareness of customer needs, preferences, timeliness, and financial obligations of clients.
• Management of resources and capabilities required to deliver protection, automation, and control (PAC) engineering services.
• Demonstrating a safety consciousness mindset in unique situations encountered at diverse work sites.
• Assisting in the development of estimates for client proposals.

• Knowledge of calculating settings for electromechanical, solid state, and microprocessor protection devices from industry platforms, including, but not limited to: GE, SEL, ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER, SIEMENS, Beckwith, Basler, Eaton, and ABB.
• Ability to write code for macros or scripts that aid in performing studies or calculating relay settings.
• Ability to understand AC and DC elementary diagrams, wiring diagrams, and one‑line drawings for the purpose of understanding system operation and developing settings.
• Proficiency in developing standard settings templates and procedures.
• Organizational skills to maintain all project documentation including customer deliverables.
• Technical leadership aptitude for projects and to guide lower‑level engineers/technicians.
• Technical breadth to support commissioning projects for the Field Engineering Services Department.
• Motivation to attend PSRC and relevant protection conferences and seminars as schedule permits.
• 7+ years of experience with power system study software, which may include CAPE, CYME, ASPEN, ETAP, Synergy, and others.
• 5+ years of fault analysis, postmortem analysis, and/or mis‑operation mitigation efforts.

Education A Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering is required from an ABET accredited institution. Alternatively, 20+ years in a role directly interfacing with protective relaying, settings, logic, and studies may be acceptable.

Experience 7-10 years with capabilities in below areas preferred:

• In‑dept…