Protection & Controls Engineer

<div class="content-intro"><p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">SpaceXAI’s mission is to create AI systems that can accurately understand the universe and aid humanity in its pursuit of knowledge. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Our team is small, highly motivated, and focused on engineering excellence. This organization is for individuals who appreciate challenging themselves and thrive on curiosity. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">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. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">All employees are expected to have strong communication skills. They should be able to concisely and accurately share knowledge with their teammates.</span></p></div><h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ABOUT THE ROLE:</span></h3> <p>Join the High Power Engineering team to design, set, commission, and maintain protection and control systems for large electrical infrastructure. As a Protection &amp; 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.</p> <h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">RESPONSIBILITIES:</span></h3> <ul> <li>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.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>Specify relays, current and voltage transformers, trip circuits, lockout schemes, breaker-failure protection, and communications-assisted schemes (permissive, blocking, transfer trip).</li> <li>Perform short-circuit, protective-device coordination, and arc-flash studies; keep settings aligned with the study of record as the system changes.</li> <li>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).</li> <li>Collect and analyze fault and disturbance records (COMTRADE and equivalent); recommend setting or scheme changes after events, misoperations, or staged tests.</li> <li>Maintain the settings management database, as-left files, and firmware/config control for in-service relays.</li> <li>Integrate protection with SCADA, RTUs, and plant/facility monitoring: DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850 (including GOOSE), and IEEE C37.118 synchrophasors as applicable.</li> <li>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).</li> <li>Work with field technicians, operators, and contractors during outages, switching, and troubleshooting. Stay hands-on at the panel.</li> <li>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.</li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:</span></h3> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another engineering discipline.</li> <li>3+ years of protection and controls experience (settings, design, or commissioning) on medium- or high-voltage systems.</li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:</span></h3> <ul> <li>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.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>SELogic or equivalent relay logic; settings templates; a formal settings management process.</li> <li>Short-circuit and coordination studies in ETAP, ASPEN OneLiner, CAPE, SKM, or EasyPower.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>Commissioning with Doble F6150, Omicron CMC, or equivalent; event-record analysis after faults.</li> <li>Familiarity with DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, IEEE C37.118, IEEE C37.111, and IEEE C37.232.</li> <li>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.\</li> <li>Professional Engineering license, or actively working toward one.</li> <li>Ability to support technicians in the field and to remain effective during outages and event investigations.</li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:</span></h3> <ul> <li>Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights.</li> <li>Work extended hours and weekends as needed to support construction, energization, and operations.</li> <li>Remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE.</li> <li>Lift up to 25 lbs. unassisted.</li> <li>Provide 24/7 on-call support for emergencies.</li> <li>Willing to work on-site in Memphis, TN. This is not a remote or hybrid role.</li> <li>Travel up to 25% for factory witness testing, vendor and OEM engagement, and supporting other sites.</li> <li>Valid driver's license.</li> </ul><div class="content-conclusion"><p><em>SpaceXAI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our </em><em><a href="https://x.ai/legal/recruitment-privacy-notice" target="_blank">Recruitment Privacy Notice</a>.</em></p></div>