IEC 61850 / Protection Automation Engineer

Protection & Relay Engineering

• Sacramento, CA (Hybrid)

Hiring ENG III

• ZA-31004
• Sacramento, CA (Hybrid)
• Hybrid
• Compensation discussed during final conversation

Why This Role Exists

Our protection architecture uses IEC 61850 GOOSE for peer-to-peer trip signals, PRP dual-star networks for zero-SPOF communication, and RTAC-3530 controllers for protocol gatewaying and sequence logic. This role exists because that stack requires an engineer who can work at the protocol level — SCL files, GOOSE datasets, PRP multicast groups, and RTAC logic programs — not just relay settings. You own the automation layer between the protection relays and the SCADA/HMI system: IEC 61850 configuration, protocol conversion (GOOSE ↔ DNP3 ↔ Modbus), and the deterministic logic that manages mode transitions, load shedding, and black-start sequencing.

What You Own

• IEC 61850 GOOSE dataset configuration: publish/subscribe mappings, multicast group assignments, SCL/CID/SCD files
• PRP dual-star network architecture: VLAN/VRF design, QoS for GOOSE traffic prioritization, dual-plane separation
• SEL RTAC-3530 logic programs (IEC 61131-3 Structured Text): sequence control, mode management, load shed/add, SOE concentration
• Protocol gateway configurations: GOOSE → DNP3 → Modbus point maps, alarm/state model definitions
• Configuration management: versioned CID/SCD baselines, change control documentation across 134-IED designs
• IRIG-B time synchronization design and SOE timestamp correlation

Systems You'll Touch

Vendor Platforms

SEL Cisco

Software Tools

SEL Architect AcSELerator RTAC AcSELerator QuickSet Wireshark

Protocols

IEC 61850 GOOSE DNP3 Modbus TCP IRIG-B SNMP

Standards

IEC 61850 IEC 62439-3 (PRP/HSR)

Site Activities

Automatic mode transitions Automatic black-start sequencing Priority-based load shedding Sequenced load restoration

What Success Looks Like

First 90 Days

• Reviewed existing IEC 61850 configurations (SCL/CID files) and RTAC logic programs on a current project
• Delivered a GOOSE dataset configuration or RTAC logic modification through internal review
• Captured GOOSE messages with Wireshark and validated publish/subscribe behavior on a PRP network

First 180 Days

• Owning IEC 61850 configuration scope on at least one project — SCL engineering, GOOSE datasets, PRP multicast
• Delivering RTAC logic programs for mode management or sequence control
• Participating in PRP network commissioning — failover testing, GOOSE continuity verification

Required Background

• 5+ years protection or automation engineering with IEC 61850 implementation experience
• GOOSE configuration: SCL file engineering (CID/SCD), publish/subscribe mappings, dataset design
• PRP or HSR network experience per IEC 62439-3 — dual-plane architecture, DANP endpoints
• SEL RTAC-3530 or equivalent automation controller programming (IEC 61131-3)
• Protocol gatewaying experience: IEC 61850 GOOSE, DNP3, Modbus TCP/RTU
• Network protocol analysis with Wireshark — GOOSE message capture and troubleshooting

Preferred Background

• SEL Architect SCL engineering tool experience
• Industrial Ethernet network design: VLAN segmentation, QoS, Cisco IE switch configuration
• IEC 62443 zone/conduit model awareness for OT network security
• IRIG-B time synchronization design and SOE correlation
• Configuration management for large IED deployments (100+ devices)

What to Expect in the Field

Travel 20–40% during commissioning and network integration phases

Site Hours Standard office hours for configuration engineering; site hours during PRP network commissioning and GOOSE verification

Customer-Facing Interface with prime contractor network and controls engineers; vendor technical support for multi-vendor interoperability

Documentation Heavy — SCL/CID/SCD files, network architecture diagrams, RTAC logic documentation, GOOSE dataset specifications, protocol point maps

Field Safety NFPA 70E awareness required for switchgear-adjacent network equipment installation and testing

Why Ziggurat

• IEC 61850 GOOSE in production — not a pilot or proof-of-concept, but the operating protection communication layer on live critical systems
• 134-IED designs with formal configuration management — work at a scale where protocol engineering matters
• Full-stack automation: you touch the protocol layer, the logic layer, and the network layer, not just one slice
• Direct access to the principal engineer who architected the DSN protection network — learn from the design authority

Hiring Process

1

Screen

Background review against role requirements — vendor platform experience, relevant certifications, project types, and standards familiarity. Quick assessment of baseline alignment before investing either party's time.

Resume review + 15-min intro call

2

Technical Review

Deeper evaluation of technical depth. We review sample work — relay settings files, protection study reports, commissioning test procedures, or SCADA configuration packages — depending on the role. If samples aren't shareable, we discuss specific project scenarios in detail.

Async work-sample review or 45-min technical call

3

Interview

Scenario-based conversation with the principal engineer. Real project situations: how you'd approach a coordination study for a complex switchgear lineup, sequence a commissioning plan across multiple vendor platforms, or troubleshoot a protection scheme failure during site acceptance testing.

60-min video call with founder

4

Exercise / Artifact Review

A practical evaluation matched to the role. Engineering roles receive a take-home exercise — review and mark up a set of relay settings, identify gaps in a protection study, or develop a test procedure for a specific scheme. Field-focused roles walk through a commissioning package or test report they've delivered, explaining their methodology and decisions.

Take-home exercise (2–4 hrs) or artifact walkthrough (60 min)

5

Final Conversation

Role scope, current project pipeline, working arrangements, and compensation. This is a two-way conversation — we want to confirm the role fits your goals, not just the other way around.

30-min call

This role supports our relay programming , architecture design and cybersecurity service scopes.

Questions about this role? Email us at [email protected]

Not ready to apply?

Stay on our radar — we'll reach out when a role matches your background.

General interest Protection & Relay EngineeringPower System Studies & DesignCommissioning & Field ExecutionIntegration & ControlsProject & Deployment Management

Let's Talk Engineering

Send your background.

First step: a 15-minute call with the principal engineer.

Apply See All Roles