Integration & Automation Engineer - IEC 61850

About the role

Lead the specification, design, and verification of IEC 61850 communication, data-modeling, and automation capabilities used across current and future SEL products. Serve as the subject-matter expert for digital substation architectures, GOOSE/SV/MMS applications, SCL engineering workflows, and related power-system communication technologies. Provide technical leadership and mentorship to cross-functional hardware, firmware, software, and power-systems engineering teams to ensure consistent, robust, and interoperable implementation of IEC 61850 features.

Responsibilities

• Lead the research, design, and specification of IEC 61850 features, models, and architectures across SEL's hardware and software product lines.
• Develop system-level requirements, functional specifications, and design documentation for both near-term and future SEL products.
• Architect and evaluate innovative approaches for GOOSE, SV, MMS, digital substations, automation schemes, data models, and engineering workflows.
• Support and guide cross-functional R&D teams as the domain authority for IEC 61850 application, performance, conformance, and design tradeoffs.
• Translate emerging standards into actionable product direction.
• Conduct feasibility studies, perform simulation or lab testing, and evaluate new technologies.
• Collaborate with firmware, hardware, software, test, cybersecurity, and product teams to ensure cohesive, reliable system designs.
• Partner with product management to assess market needs, develop competitive/technical analysis, and recommend product enhancements for integration, commissioning, and testing workflows.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to developing team-wide technical expertise in IEC 61850 and digital substation engineering.
• Provide system-level engineering support during product development, reviews, architecture discussions, and critical design decisions.
• Continuously learn, model SEL values, and help maintain SEL's leadership in reliable protection, automation, and control systems.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in power system protection, automation, or substation communications engineering.
• Demonstrated expertise with IEC 61850 - including data modeling, SCL workflows, GOOSE, MMS, sampled values, and system architectures.
• Knowledge of IEC 60870-5-103/-101/-104, Modbus, DNP3, PRP, IEEE 1588 PTP, and SEL protocols; deep understanding of substation integration patterns, client/server and publisher/subscriber models, network redundancy, and time synchronization.
• Experience designing or implementing protection, automation, or SCADA systems in utility or industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of electric power systems, relay protection fundamentals, communications networks, and automation schemes.
• Ability to develop clear, detailed engineering documentation, specifications, and system designs.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and technical leadership skills.
• Ability to learn new skills, assume new responsibilities, and work cooperatively in a team environment.
• Background check results satisfactory to SEL. Negative drug test result(s).

Preferred Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline
• Experience with SEL products, tools, and engineering workflows.
• Hands-on experience configuring or deploying digital substations or IEC 61850-based automation schemes.
• Experience with IEC 61850 engineering artifacts and tools (SCL/SSD/IID/ICD/CID, SCT workflows).
• Hands-on experience with Wireshark or equivalent for MMS/GOOSE/Sampled Values analysis; familiarity with VLANs/QoS, network simulation, and impairment testing.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity requirements for substation automation systems.

Pay and benefits

Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.

People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.

• We're 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
• We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
• We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
• Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.

Pay Range Data

Lead Integration & Automation Engineer: $107,600 - $161,500

Development Lead Integration & Automation Engineer $129,200 - $193,900

We are open to reviewing additional candidates with more or less experience and the pay range may differ if filled at a different level. Our pay ranges are determined by job and responsibility. We base our starting pay offer and title on job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills.

Communication with Applicants

We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at.

SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.