Protection & Controls Engineer - Memphis

About the role

SpaceXAI's mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. We operate with a flat organizational structure.

All employees are expected to be hands-on and to contribute directly to the company's mission. Leadership is given to those who show initiative and consistently deliver excellence. Work ethic and strong prioritization skills are important. All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.

About the Role

Join the High Power Engineering team to design, set, commission, and maintain protection and control systems for large electrical infrastructure. As a Protection & Controls Engineer, you will own schemes and settings from the transmission interconnection through distribution, on-site generation, and battery energy storage, down to medium- and low-voltage buses serving data halls and other mission-critical loads. The position is based in Memphis, TN, with potential travel to other sites.

Responsibilities

• Develop protection philosophy, one-line and three-line diagrams, DC control schematics, wiring diagrams, and relay panel layouts for the electrical system from the utility interconnection to facility buses.
• Calculate, implement, and maintain protective relay settings and logic for transmission lines, buses, power transformers, distribution feeders, generators, and battery energy storage / inverter-based resources.
• Specify relays, current and voltage transformers, trip circuits, lockout schemes, breaker-failure protection, and communications-assisted schemes (permissive, blocking, transfer trip).
• Perform short-circuit, protective-device coordination, and arc-flash studies; keep settings aligned with the study of record as the system changes.
• Commission protection systems: functional checks, primary and secondary injection, end-to-end scheme tests, and in-service timing checks. Use industry test sets (e.g. Doble, Omicron).
• Collect and analyze fault and disturbance records (COMTRADE and equivalent); recommend setting or scheme changes after events, misoperations, or staged tests.
• Maintain the settings management database, as-left files, and firmware/config control for in-service relays.
• Integrate protection with SCADA, RTUs, and plant/facility monitoring: DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850 (including GOOSE), and IEEE C37.118 synchrophasors as applicable.
• Support NERC PRC evidence and testing where the interconnection or generation/storage fleet requires it (e.g. PRC-005, PRC-019, PRC-024, PRC-027).
• Work with field technicians, operators, and contractors during outages, switching, and troubleshooting. Stay hands-on at the panel.
• Apply IEEE C37 (including line, transformer, bus, and generator protection), NESC, NFPA 70 / 70E, IEEE 1547, and IEEE 2800 as they apply to the assets in scope.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another engineering discipline.
• 3+ years of protection and controls experience (settings, design, or commissioning) on medium- or high-voltage systems.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 5+ years in a protection and controls role at a utility, independent power producer, EPC, relay manufacturer (e.g. SEL), or hyperscale / colocation data center operator.
• Hands-on experience with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) relays and software (AcSELerator QuickSet, synchroWAVe Event, or equivalent). GE, ABB, Siemens, or Beckwith experience also valued.
• SELogic or equivalent relay logic; settings templates; a formal settings management process.
• Short-circuit and coordination studies in ETAP, ASPEN OneLiner, CAPE, SKM, or EasyPower.
• Transmission and distribution protection (line, bus, transformer, feeder) plus at least one of: generator protection, BESS/inverter-based resource protection, or mission-critical facility / data hall medium-voltage protection.
• Commissioning with Doble F6150, Omicron CMC, or equivalent; event-record analysis after faults.
• Familiarity with DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, IEEE C37.118, IEEE C37.111, and IEEE C37.232.
• Working knowledge of IEEE C37.102 (generator), C37.91 (transformer), C37.234 (bus), IEEE 1547 / 2800 (interconnection and inverter-based resources), and applicable NERC PRC standards.\
• Professional Engineering license, or actively working toward one.
• Ability to support technicians in the field and to remain effective during outages and event investigations.

Additional Requirements

• Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights.
• Work extended hours and weekends as needed to support construction, energization, and operations.
• Remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE.
• Lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted.
• Provide 24/7 on-call support for emergencies.
• Willing to work on-site in Memphis, TN. This is not a remote or hybrid role.
• Travel up to 25% for factory witness testing, vendor and OEM engagement, and supporting other sites.
• Valid driver's license.