Lead Engineer (A&I / Relay) - Hybrid

As a Lead Engineer at Asplundh Engineering Services, your responsibilities include leading a team in creating custom engineering solutions, performing coordination studies, creating Protection & Control settings designs, and conducting short circuit studies. You'll also analyze events, review HMI settings, and ensure compliance with industry best practices in cybersecurity. Additionally, you'll be involved in mentoring junior engineers and collaborating closely with clients to meet their specific project requirements.

To qualify for the Lead Engineer (A&I / Relay) position at Asplundh, candidates should have a minimum of 7 years of experience in relay or protection engineering, a B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Engineering Technology, and programming knowledge related to protection relays and substation equipment. Being a registered PE in Maine, Connecticut, or New York is preferred, along with experience in IEC 61850/Goose and familiarity with various substation relays and equipment.

To excel as a Lead Engineer at Asplundh, strong leadership skills are essential, along with excellent organizational and planning abilities. You'll thrive in a detail-oriented environment, focusing on quality deliverables. Being adaptable in a fast-paced industry while fostering a collaborative team spirit will further enhance your success in this position. Technical skills related to relay design and cybersecurity compliance will also be crucial in executing your duties effectively.

At Asplundh Engineering Services, professional development is a key component of our culture. As a Lead Engineer, you'll have opportunities to mentor junior staff, which not only enhances their growth but also helps you refine your leadership skills. Additionally, we encourage continuous learning by providing access to the latest industry knowledge and best practices to ensure you remain at the forefront of engineering advancements.

In the role of Lead Engineer at Asplundh, you'll be engaged in diverse projects spanning the transmission, distribution, substation, commercial, and industrial sectors. This includes designing systems for renewable infrastructure and planning for effective utility vegetation management, ensuring that we meet our customers' needs across various domains. Your involvement will cover everything from design to testing and emergency restoration.

When answering, provide detailed examples of your past projects involving protection relay engineering. Highlight your role in designing, configuring, and testing relays, including any specific models you've worked with such as SEL or GE. Show your comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects and your approach to problem-solving in these situations.

Discuss your leadership style, emphasizing your ability to delegate tasks effectively and maintain open communication within the team. Share examples of how you've successfully coordinated projects from planning through execution and how you've helped resolve conflicts or overcome challenges that arose.

Explain the importance of cybersecurity in your engineering work and mention specific strategies you implement. This could include staying updated with industry standards, conducting regular compliance audits, and fostering a culture of security awareness among team members.

Provide a specific example of a challenging project you faced, outlining the obstacles encountered and the steps you took to resolve them. Highlight your problem-solving skills and how your leadership contributed to the project's success despite difficulties.

For this answer, discuss your experience with IEC 61850, emphasizing any projects where you've implemented this standard. Explain how you applied your knowledge to enhance communication and interoperability within substation automation systems.

Share your approach to maintaining strong client relationships, focusing on clear communication, setting expectations, and being responsive to feedback. Discuss times when your proactive engagement with clients led to positive outcomes.

Explain your training philosophy, emphasizing hands-on learning and mentorship. Provide examples of how you've created training programs or on-the-job learning opportunities and how you've tailored your approach to different learning styles.

Discuss your experience performing event analysis, detailing the kinds of data you've reviewed and the methodologies you employed. Highlight any tools or software you used, and explain how this experience allows you to improve system reliability.

Outline your systematic approach to designing Protection & Control settings, detailing steps such as requirement gathering, design review, and risk assessment. Stress the importance of collaboration with other engineers and teams to ensure thoroughness and compliance.

Discuss the resources you utilize to stay informed about advancements in the field, such as industry publications, conferences, and professional networks. Mention any continuous education efforts or certifications you pursue to enhance your expertise.