This position reports to:Electrical Engineering Manager
ABB is seeking a Senior Lead Electrical Engineer with a strong background in Protection and Controls to join our team. Working at ABB offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience across the full spectrum of power system engineering. Our group actively engages in substation design, protection and controls engineering, power system studies, and the design and implementation of power management systems. Being part of this team allows engineers to collaborate across multiple disciplines, contribute to complex and impactful projects, and develop a well-rounded understanding of modern power infrastructure up to 69kV.
The work model for the role is: hybrid
This role is contributing to the Automation Energy Industries division in Houston, TX.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for Power System Studies and Protection and Controls across multiple projects, providing guidance, standards, and technical oversight to the engineering team.
- Power system network data collection, model development, establish study cases, run reports within the software, and create engineering deliverables based on the results.
- Develop and review protection and control systems. This includes the review of single line diagrams, recommend protection philosophies, relay selection, settings development, relay configuration, and coordination.
- Support and mentor team members on protection and control best practices, helping build capability within the group
- Perform and review power system studies including more advanced studies (e.g. dynamic stability, harmonic, transient analysis, grounding, dynamic motor starting, frequency response, voltage stability, and generator synchronization) to support protection design and validate system performance.
- Investigate and analyze power system disturbances, equipment failures, and protective relay operations at customer facilities
- Review engineering deliverables to ensure technical accuracy, consistency, and compliance with industry standards, project specifications, and internal engineering practices.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to support project execution and technical decision-making.
Additional tasks with varying scope depending on experience level:
- Create and review substation and electrical building integration design packages and follow those projects from the conceptual stage to construction completion.
- Design/review/implementation of power management systems (PMS).
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license required.
- 15+ years of experience in power systems engineering, with significant experience in Protection and Controls.
- Expert-level knowledge of protection principles, relay coordination, and protection scheme design for medium and high voltage power systems.
- Proven ability to independently perform protective relay configuration and settings development (e.g., SEL, GE, Siemens, ABB or similar platforms).
- Ability to lead and execute power system studies with no technical supervision beyond the basic studies (SC, LF, PC, AF).
- Expert-level experience with at least one of the major power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, SKM PowerTools, EasyPower, PSCAD, or similar). Working knowledge of substation design and electrical building integration, including protection and control system interfaces.
- Familiarity supporting or implementing power management systems (PMS) or SCADA-based monitoring and control systems is considered an asset. Strong understanding of relevant industry standards and codes (IEEE, NFPA, NEC, ANSI, IEC, or equivalent as applicable).
- Proven ability to lead engineering work packages or projects and coordinate with multidisciplinary teams. Excellent technical problem-solving, communication, and documentation skills.
- Ability to mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance within the team.
We empower you to take the lead, share bold ideas, and shape real outcomes. You'll grow through hands-on experience, mentorship, and learning that fits your goals. Here, your work doesn't just matter, it moves things forward
What's in it for you We want you to bring your full self to work-your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You'll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to myBenefitsABB.com and click on "Candidate/Guest" to learn more
Health, Life & Disability- Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
- Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
- Vision benefit
- Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
- Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
- Voluntary life and AD&D - 100% employee paid up to maximums
- Short Term Disability - up to 26 weeks - Company paid
- Long Term Disability - 60% of pay - Company paid. Ability to "buy-up" to 66 2/3% of pay.
- Supplemental benefits - 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
- Parental Leave - up to 6 weeks
- Employee Assistance Program
- Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
- Employee discount program
Retirement- 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions
- Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)
Time off
ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Vacation is provided based on years of service for hourly and non-exempt positions. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
