Protection & Control Technician - Electrical Testing; PA, NJ

Protection and Control Technician

The Protection and Control Technician is responsible for delivering high-quality testing and verification services for utility and industrial-scale power systems. This role supports protection and control maintenance, upgrades, and new installations across the full project lifecycle—from design validation through system energization. The position helps ensure electrical systems are installed, tested, and commissioned in accordance with design intent, project specifications, and industry standards, while minimizing risk and supporting safe, reliable system operation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute comprehensive electrical testing activities to verify proper installation and system integration
• Ensure compliance with design intent, project specifications, codes, and industry standards
• Support system energization and turnover to operations
• Perform protective relay testing, calibration, and settings verification
• Validate proper operation of protection systems - Ensure integrated system components operate together as designed
• Identify and resolve misconfigurations or performance issues prior to energization
• Support system reliability by preventing nuisance trips, equipment damage, and outages
• Conduct functional testing of protection, control, and automation systems
• Simulate operating conditions to verify logic, interlocks, alarms, and system responses
• Perform testing and validation of metering systems, including revenue-grade and power quality meters
• Ensure compliance with utility requirements and project specifications
• Review electrical designs, including drawings, protection schemes, control logic, and system settings
• Provide technical recommendations to improve system safety, reliability, and performance
• Diagnose and resolve protection mis-operations, control system issues, alarms, and performance anomalies

Qualifications:

Protection and Controls technician:

• Minimum associate's degree in electrical technology, Army Prime Power or Navy Nuclear electrical program, apprenticeship OR 1-3 years substation protection and controls field experience
• Knowledge of electrical power systems, protection, and control concepts
• Experience with relay testing – electro-mechanical and microprocessor relays
• Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, AC/DC schematics, and protection schemes
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication and technical abilities
• Commitment to safety, quality, and human performance
• Ability to travel within defined footprint
• Valid driver's license with clean driving record
• Osha 30
• NFPA 70E

Senior level Protection and Control Technician qualifications include:

• Minimum associate's degree in electrical technology, Army Prime Power or Navy Nuclear electrical program, or apprenticeship and 1-3 years substation protection and controls field experience OR 5+ years substation protection and controls field experience

Lead level Protection and Control Technician qualifications include:

• Minimum associate's degree in electrical technology, Army Prime Power or Navy Nuclear electrical program or apprenticeship and 5 years substation protection and controls field experience OR 7+ years substation protection and controls field experience

Requirements:

Must be located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio or West Virginia. Relocation is available.

Benefits $60-$85 per hour depending on experience

Medical, Dental, Vision – 100% employer funded for employee + family

Retirement contributions

Short term disability

Hourly Wage with applicable overtime rates

Per diem ($210 per day) and travel

Paid vacation fund

Paid holidays

FR clothing allowance

Cell phone allowance

Safety shoes/prescription glasses reimbursement

Outfitted company vehicle and fuel card

Company required PPE, tools, and equipment