Manager or Associate Director, System Protection Engineering (Electric Utility)
Locations: Texas City, TX, League City, TX or Lewisville, TX
Salary Range: $120,000 – $210,000+ (Depending on Experience)
A leading Texas electric transmission and distribution utility is seeking a Manager or Associate Director, System Protection Engineering to oversee the strategic direction and day‑to‑day execution of its System Protection organization. This role is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and compliant design and operation of protection systems across transmission and distribution infrastructure.
This position offers the opportunity to lead a highly technical team supporting grid reliability, capital expansion, and regulatory compliance within a regulated utility environment.
Position Overview
- Leadership role overseeing System Protection engineering and standards
- Location flexibility: Texas City, TX, League City, TX or Lewisville, TX
- Manages multiple concurrent projects, capital programs, and engineering personnel
- Acts as a senior technical authority and compliance subject matter expert
Compensation & Benefits
- Base salary: $120,000 – $210,000+, depending on experience
- Annual Incentive Plan
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) company match and company‑paid retirement contributions
- Paid time off and holidays
- Long‑term stability and leadership growth in a regulated utility environment
Position Summary
The Manager or Associate Director, System Protection Engineering oversees the technical, operational, and strategic functions of the System Protection group. This role develops and implements engineering solutions, standards, and programs to ensure protection systems are safe, reliable, and compliant with regulatory and corporate requirements.
The Manager or Associate Director leads engineering teams, manages budgets, establishes long‑term strategy, and serves as a technical subject matter expert for system protection and NERC compliance.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead, delegate, and coordinate engineering work across multiple simultaneous projects
- Oversee technical requirements for capital expansion, infrastructure replacement, and modernization projects
- Develop, revise, and implement protection schemes, relay communications, metering, control, station, and line standards
- Ensure compliance with all applicable codes, rules, and regulations, including NERC, IEEE, ASTM, NFPA, and state/federal requirements
- Establish and monitor quality assurance processes for new and existing infrastructure projects
- Develop annual performance objectives and long‑term departmental strategy
- Manage capital, O&M, and E&S budgets associated with the System Protection group
- Act as a technical SME for NERC compliance and reliability standards
- Recommend and implement improvements to company engineering and construction standards
- Coordinate department activities with System Planning, System Engineering, Power Operations, Distribution Operations, and Maintenance teams
- Represent the organization on internal and external engineering, operating, and standards committees
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution
- 7–9 years of experience in an electric utility environment with a focus on Protection & Control / System Protection
- Minimum 2 years of people management experience
- Demonstrated expertise in system protection design, standards, and operations
- Working knowledge of NERC Reliability Standards and their application
- Ability to lead technical teams, manage multiple priorities, and make independent engineering decisions
Master’s degree preferred
Preferred Certifications & Licenses
- Texas Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred
- Valid driver’s license meeting company requirements
Core Competencies
- Expert‑level knowledge of System Protection engineering
- Strong understanding of telecommunications, metering, substations, and transmission lines
- Knowledge of construction and maintenance of utility transmission and distribution systems
- Proven leadership and ability to motivate and develop technical staff
- Ability to manage complex projects on time and within budget
- Strong judgment, creativity, and interpersonal skills
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Direct management of engineers and technical staff
- Oversight of a multi‑disciplinary engineering team
- Performance management, coaching, training, and staffing evaluation
Communication Skills
- Advanced written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to prepare and present proposals, reports, and technical briefings to senior leadership
- Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to audiences with varying levels of technical expertise
- Effective interaction with internal and external stakeholders
Technical & Computer Skills
- Proficiency with standard office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, databases)
- Familiarity with protection engineering and testing tools such as:
- ASPEN OneLiner
- Doble and Omicron testing software
- Enoserv RTS
- Relay platforms including SEL, GE, Novatech, and similar systems
Compliance & Background Requirements
- Position is covered by NERC CIP cybersecurity standards
- Successful completion of a personnel risk assessment, background check, and identity verification required
- Annual cybersecurity training required
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
- Primarily office‑based with periodic field visits to substations and transmission facilities
- Exposure to energized equipment up to 345kV
- May be on 24‑hour call during certain periods
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs occasionally
- Occasional travel for meetings and conferences, including limited air travel
Apply Today
Join a utility leadership team responsible for protecting and advancing the reliability of Texas’ electric grid through expert engineering, strong leadership, and regulatory excellence.
Pay: $120,000.00 - $210,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- How many total years do you have working in an electric utility environment focused on Protection & Control / System Protection, and how many of those years were in a people‑management or leadership role?
Work Location: In person
