Summary

APS is seeking a Systems Protection Engineer III / Senior to support the reliable operation of our transmission and sub-transmission systems. In this role, you will develop and maintain protective relay settings for 115KV and above systems, perform fault analysis and coordination studies utilizing Siemens CAPE/APA short-circuit modeling software, support outage system event analysis and system restoration, and drive improvements to protection schemes across the APS transmission network.

Working closely with Transmission Operations, Substation Engineering, Transmission Planning, and Protection & Control teams, you will play a critical role in ensuring protection systems operate safely, reliably, and in compliance with industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, review, and maintain transmission and sub-transmission relay settings.
• Perform fault studies, coordination analysis, and power system modeling.
• Maintain protection system documentation and relay setting records.
• Lead and support projects that improve protection system performance and reliability.
• Analyze protection system operations and investigate relay misoperations.
• Participate in root cause analyses and corrective action development.
• Support field testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, and energization activities.
• Respond to and support operations during system disturbances and grid events.
• Configure and maintain Digital Fault Recorders (DFRs) and disturbance monitoring systems.
• Support compliance initiatives related to NERC PRC and CIP standards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with transmission protection and control systems.
• Knowledge of protective relaying principles, fault analysis, and relay coordination.
• Familiarity with transmission system modeling software and disturbance analysis tools.
• Experience supporting NERC reliability and cybersecurity compliance programs.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and collaboration skills.

Minimum Requirements

Engineer III

• A four-year Bachelors degree in an engineering discipline or related applied science discipline (see approved list) from an ABET accredited institution, an International Engineering Alliance (IEA) recognized institution or an ABET Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
• Plus five (5) years working experience in Engineering-related positions.

Engineer Senior

• A four-year Bachelors degree in an engineering discipline or related applied science discipline (see approved list) from an ABET accredited institution, an International Engineering Alliance (IEA) recognized institution or an ABET Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
• Plus eight (8) years working experience in Engineering-related positions.

Approved degrees: Materials Science/Metallurgy, Physics, Chemistry, Nuclear, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Electronics, Computer Science, Environmental, Chemical, Structural. (A four-year bachelor of Engineering Technology degree is not considered an automatic equivalent for a B.S. degree in Engineering. A review of the degree program curriculum must be completed by Engineering department management.)

Major Accountabilities

1) Develop or revise relay settings in support of modifications to the transmission system.

2) Maintain an up-to-date short circuit model of the APS transmission and sub-transmission system.

3) Maintain up-to-date documentation of all relay settings in the transmission and sub-transmission system.

4) Develop programs/projects to improve existing protection systems across the APS transmission system.

5) Periodically review relay settings across the system to ensure adequate coordination and protection.

6) Provide support to field personnel during testing and commissioning of protection schemes.

7) Provide support to operations personnel during system events.

8) Review protection system operations to determine correct operation or mis-operation.

9) Participate in root cause analysis following the declaration of a protection system mis-operation.

10) Participate in NERC Compliance activities in support of applicable PRC and CIP standards

11) Specification, design, create settings, and keep settings records of Digital Fault recorders installed in APS's

CIP Requirement:

This position requires Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) access consistent with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) standards. The applicant considered for this role will be required to obtain and maintain CIP access for the duration of employment in this position. A full seven (7) year criminal history will be obtained through the pre-employment background check process (or, for current employees, through supplemental background check process) to fulfill the CIP access requirements. In addition, this position requires an additional background check every seven years to maintain access.

Hybrid: Employees in hybrid roles work both in their home offices (virtually) and alongside their colleagues (in person).

In order for employees to build strong relationships and to promote meaningful in-person interactions, hybrid employees are expected to work about 40% of their time in-person at an APS or other (non-home office) location.

• Employees are expected to reside in Arizona (or New Mexico for Four Corners-based employees).
• Working from a home office requires adequate technology and an appropriate ergonomic set up.
• Role types are subject to change based on business need.