Protection & Control (P&C) Relay Engineer - System Design

Job Title: Protection & Control (P&C) Relay Engineer - System Design (IEC 61850)

Location: Erlangen, Germany
Contract: Freelance / Contractor
Start: Immediate
Type: Phase 1 Engineering

Overview

We are seeking experienced Protection & Control Relay Engineers to support the early-phase engineering and system design of high-voltage substation automation projects. This position focuses on system architecture , device selection , and protection & control design -not commissioning. The role involves detailed engineering work within a project team developing substation protection systems, automation schemes, and IEC 61850 architectures.

Key Responsibilities

System Design & Architecture

• Develop protection and control system architectures for HV substations
• Create engineering documentation including SLDs, logic diagrams, interface lists, and signal matrices
• Define bay-level and station-level automation concepts

Relay & Device Engineering

• Select appropriate protection relays (e.g., distance, differential, feeder, transformer) and IEDs
• Specify bay controllers, merging units, RTUs, communication processors, and auxiliary devices
• Review and verify CT/VT parameters, trip circuits, and interlocking schemes

IEC 61850 Engineering

• Engineer communication architectures including GOOSE, Sampled Values, MMS, and SCL files
• Configure network redundancy (PRP/HSR), VLAN planning, and system topology
• Create and validate datasets, report configurations, and GOOSE mappings

Software Configuration

• Configure and parameterize protection relays using vendor-specific tools
• Develop system configuration descriptions (SCD)
• Create logic, settings, and functional schemes for protection systems

Technical Validation & Testing Support (Office-Based)

• Perform engineering checks of connectors, interfaces, communication routes, and signal allocation
• Validate protection settings against project requirements
• Support FAT preparation (no site work required)

Required Experience

• Background in Protection & Control , Substation Automation , or HV Grid Engineering
• Strong experience with IEC 61850 engineering
• Hands-on experience configuring protection relays (any major OEM)
• Understanding of HV substation design (AIS or GIS)
• Experience with relay configuration tools (e.g., DIGSI 5 or equivalent)
• Experience creating SCL/SCD files
• Strong knowledge of communication protocols: GOOSE, SV, MMS, Modbus, DNP3

Desired Skills

• Knowledge of European grid codes and protection philosophies
• Experience with network engineering (VLANs, PRP/HSR redundancy)
• Ability to read and interpret SLDs, wiring diagrams, logic diagrams
• Strong documentation skills
• Ability to work as part of a fast-paced engineering team

Contract Details

• Location: Onsite in Erlangen
• Duration: Long-term freelance/contract
• Phase: Design & engineering phase
• Start date: Immediate / urgent requirement

ewi is committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer. ewi is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

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