Principal Engineer - Substation Automation

Position OverviewPower your future with Qualus
in our Transmission & Distribution Canada business. We are seeking a Principal Protection & Control Engineer to join our well-established Protection & Control team of engineers and designers in Canada. This role offers long-term workload stability, exposure to a diverse portfolio of projects, and the opportunity to provide technical leadership across utility and renewable energy clients.
You will work on projects ranging from 12 kV to 500 kV, supporting designs from early concept through construction and commissioning. This opportunity is ideal for a principal engineer who enjoys technical ownership, mentoring others, and solving complex system-level challenges.
Responsibilities
Act as the Qualus’
Automation Protection & Control Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing technical governance across multiple projects and programs
Set and uphold automation, standards, and best practices for high‑voltage substations
Serve as Principal Engineer or Technical Authority on complex, high‑risk, or non‑standard projects, providing final technical approval and direction
Provide review and approval of:
Protection planning, philosophy, and application documents
One-lines, schematics, logic diagrams, panel layouts, and wiring diagrams
RTU, PLC, HMI, embedded controller, and communications system configurations
Chair or participate in senior‑level design reviews, hazard and risk assessments, and near miss investigations
Advise project teams on construction sequencing, outage planning, and commissioning strategy
Provide technical oversight for project scopes, feasibility studies, cost estimates, and definition‑phase deliverables, including review of assumptions and risks
Support Business Development by contributing technical strategy, execution approaches, and risk assessments for proposals and pursuits
Act as a primary technical escalation point for clients, internal teams, and external partners
Mentor senior and junior engineers, and play a key role in the continuous improvement of Automation standards, tools, and engineering practices
Qualifications
20+ years of utility-focused protection, control, and metering engineering experience, with demonstrated system‑level responsibility
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from a recognized university
Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Canada, or eligibility to obtain (U.S. PE considered an asset)
Recognized expertise in substation protection philosophy, including transmission line, transformer, bus, and feeder protection
Extensive experience with EMS, DMS, SCADA Masters, RTUs, PLCs, HMIs, telemetry, and communications protocols
Strong knowledge of DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, and related utility protocols
Experience performing protection coordination studies and relay settings for high‑voltage transmission systems
Proven success in system architecture, field commissioning, troubleshooting, and stakeholder engagement.
Practical experience with substation construction, commissioning, outage planning, and operational interfaces
Proven ability to provide technical judgment on non‑standard, complex, or first‑of‑kind applications
Strong understanding of NERC compliance and its impact on design activities
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Experience on EPC projects, and familiarity with utility maintenance and operational practices, are considered strong assets
Demonstrated capability to mentor
Benefits & CompensationQualus benefits offered include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short and Long‑Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays, for those who qualify.
The final salary awarded for this role may vary from the above range based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs. The salary range provided in this job posting may be subject to change for business purposes.
Company OverviewQualus is a leading pure‑play power solutions firm and innovator at the forefront of power infrastructure transformation, with differentiated capabilities across grid modernization, resiliency, security, and sustainability. The firm partners with utilities, commercial, industrial, data center, and government clients, and renewable and energy storage developers, offering comprehensive solutions through boutique and integrated advisory, planning, engineering, digital solutions, program management, energy efficiency and specialized field services. Qualus also provides software and technology enabled services and develops breakthrough solutions for critical power industry challenges such as distributed and variable resource integration, emergency management, and secure data exchange. The firm has over 2,000 professionals, with offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.
EEOWe are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. We are committed to providing an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on any grounds protected by applicable human rights legislation across Canada and the US.
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