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Principal Engineer - Protection & Controls SME

Date: Aug 26, 2024

Location(s): Juno Beach, FL, US, 33408

Company: NextEra Energy

Requisition ID: 82268

is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, and a world leader in battery storage. We provide energy-related products and services that grow our economy, protect the environment, support our communities and help customers meet their energy needs. We are leading the decarbonization of the U.S. economy with our goal to reach Real Zero carbon emissions from our operations by 2045 while improving customer affordability and reliability. Are you interested in creating a cleaner environment for future generations? Join our world-class, innovative team today.

Position Specific Description

As a NextEra Energy Resources ‘Protection & Controls Engineer’ you will be responsible for leading or assisting others with the development of relaying designs within high voltage substations or transmission switchyards, generator collector substations, as well as co-located or hybrid technology applications (wind, solar, storage) across the continental United States.

The position is based out of Juno Beach, Florida, within the Engineering & Construction (E&C) Business Unit with the opportunity to travel, up to 10%. Adhering to our core values, all our employees and contractors are responsible for contributing to a safe work environment.

The protection engineer will directly be responsible to create protection design basis documentation ensuring compliance to requirements of NERC PRC standards, and our interconnecting transmission owners to ensure NextEra is operating in a safe, reliable and secure manner with an initial focus on ERCOT NOGRR 245. In addition, this role would manage the successful development of relaying best practices, relaying specifications, identify emerging protection technologies (i.e. IEC 61850), develop DME or PDC design guidance, and partner with substation engineers of record (EORs) that execute the implementation of the substation design package.

A key emphasis will be placed on leveraging Aspen One Line modeling system, CAPE, and ETAP programs for fault current simulations and relay coordination. Participate in effectively performing or managing relay setting calculations for microprocessor type relays (e.g. SEL, GE, ABB, Siemens, Hitachi, Beckwith) as well as familiarity with vendor software, settings/logic files, arc flash, and communication assisted protection systems.

Day To Day Responsibiltiies:

• Reviews & coordinates project protection designs (relay & meter one lines, AC elementary one lines, DC elementary one lines)

• Performs design reviews and demonstrates strong working knowledge of relay protection systems including logic diagrams, calculations reports, relay database management, and coordination studies

• Accountable to applicable codes and standards, including TO requirements, e.g. ERCOT NOGRR 245 and 255

• Helps select relaying and/or breaker equipment and material in preparation of construction work

• Building relationships with relaying vendors such as SEL, GE, and ABB

• Developing relay setting best practices, standards, logic templates, and specifications

• Partnering with substation EORs to execute on design of projects

• Assists in site visits and station walkdowns

• Support estimating, project meeting, and coordinating project schedules

• Troubleshooting unplanned outages and events remotely as needed

• Reviewing relaying testing documentation submitted by commissioning teams

Preferred Experience:

• An ability to read protection & control drawings, understanding of instrument transformers including type, accuracy, & burden (CT, PTs, CVTs), understanding of breaker design including trip coils, clearing times, strong understanding of a variety of relaying technologies (SEL, GE, ABB, Siemens, Beckwith), understanding of relay setting design principles, using Aspen/CAPE/ETAP, developing calculation sheets, TCC curves, NERC PRC standards and the ability to troubleshoot events providing expert feedback on root cause of outages.

• Excellent communications skills to interface with various entities on the construction site, in development, engineering, or business management.• Reviewing Large Generator Interconnect Agreements (LGIAs)

• Familiarity with energy markets as it relates to CAISO, SPP, MISO, ERCOT, NYISO, PJM, & ISONE

• Reviewing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)

• Bench testing protection relays

• Aspen One Liner/CAPE/ETAP

• PSS/E, PSLF

• Quickly learn, adapt, and apply best practices

• Past history in developing standards

• Prior history serving on committees and staying abreast of industry developments specifically in the relay and transmission planning field

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, business acumen, management ability, and technical writing

Job Overview

Employees in this role make decisions and recommendations having significant impact on extensive engineering and related activities for the company. This position negotiates critical and controversial issues with top level engineers and officers of other organizations and companies.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Demonstrates a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing, and guiding extensive engineering programs and activities

• Manages one or more programs of complex diversity and scope which are of critical importance to overall company objectives

• Acts as a subject matter expert

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s - Engineering

• Experience: 7+ years

Preferred Qualifications

• None

NextEra Energy offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees and their eligible family members. Clickto learn more.

Employee Group: Exempt

Employee Type: Full Time

Job Category: Engineering

Organization: NextEra Energy Resources, LLC

Relocation Provided: Yes, if applicable

NextEra Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law. We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

NextEra Energy and provides reasonable accommodation in its application and selection process for qualified individuals, including accommodations related to compliance with conditional job offer requirements, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Supporting medical or religious documentation will be required where applicable and permitted by applicable law. To request a reasonable accommodation, please send an e-mail to, providing your name, telephone number and the best time for us to reach you. Alternatively, you may call 1-844-694-4748. Please do not use this line to inquire about your application status.

NextEra Energy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

NextEra Energy does not accept any unsolicited resumes or referrals from any third-party recruiting firms or agencies . Please see ourfor more information.

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