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Senior Operations Electrical Engineer (Protection & Control)

Invenergy · Chicago, IL · Full time

Posted Aug 25, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a protection issue you found that others had missed.

What they are checking: Whether they have the depth and curiosity to catch subtle protection problems before they cause outages.

Describe a time you were the go-to technical person for a hard problem. How did you handle that role?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead technically and support others, since this role is the lead resource for protection issues.

What would you do

A wind site keeps tripping offline during storms, and the cause is unclear. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead a systematic investigation and coordinate with field teams and manufacturers.

Field technicians want to change a relay setting to stop nuisance trips. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they protect safety and coordination while still helping the field solve a real problem.

About the work

Walk me through how you would analyze a relay event at a solar substation after an unexpected trip.

What they are checking: Whether they can pull event records, read waveforms and find the root cause in a structured way.

How does protection for inverter-based resources differ from protection for traditional synchronous generators?

What they are checking: Whether they understand limited fault current and inverter behavior that change how protection schemes work.

How do you check relay settings and coordination across a collection system, substation and gen-tie line?

What they are checking: Whether they can review coordination across voltage levels so the right device trips first.

What NERC standards apply to protection systems at generation sites, and how do you support compliance?

What they are checking: Whether they understand reliability standards like PRC requirements that apply to the fleet.

How would you write an event report so that both engineers and managers can understand it?

What they are checking: Whether they can communicate clearly at different technical levels, which the posting stresses for reporting.

What relay platforms, such as SEL or GE, have you worked with, and what do you like about each?

What they are checking: Whether they have real hands-on experience with the devices used across substations.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Invenergy from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Invenergy.

Invenergy is North America’s largest privately held developer, owner, and operator of power infrastructure. With 25 years of trusted execution, we deliver reliable, affordable energy through a diverse portfolio that includes natural gas, solar, land-based wind, energy storage, transmission, and domestic manufacturing. Headquartered in Chicago, we develop, own, and operate large scale projects that power communities and support the energy future. This position will be open for application for at least 3 calendar days from the posting date. This position will remain open for application based on business need, which may be before or after the 3-day posting window. Job Description Position Overview As a Senior Operations Electrical Engineer, you will provide technical leadership for protection and control systems that support renewable generation, collection systems, substations, and gen tie facilities. This role focuses on protective relays, event analysis and reporting, relay settings and coordination, and protection schemes for inverter-based resources across wind, solar, and battery storage assets Invenergy follows a hybrid schedule, working in office Monday through Thursday and remotely on Fridays. Responsibilities • Serve as the lead technical resource for protection & control issues across high voltage substations, collection systems, and renewable plants, supporting outage investigations, abnormal equipment behavior reviews , and reliability improvement efforts • Provide technical support for regulatory and compliance requirements PRC-028, PRC-029, PRC-030 related to protection systems, including event reporting, corrective action development, evidence review, and coordination with compliance, operations, and asset management teams . • Serve as the l ead technical resource for NERC PRC compliance efforts , including coordination, settings validation, and performance monitoring for standards such as PRC-005, PRC-019, PRC-025, PRC-027, and emerging IBR-focused standards • Lead protection coordination and relay settings strategy across the fleet, ensuring alignment with system studies, interconnection requirements, and operational constraints • Lead cross-functional initiatives and projects, including fleet-wide procedure development, standardization of practices, and evaluation and onboarding of testing vendors and engineering consultants . • Develop, review, and maintain protection philosophies, relay settings, and coordination strategies. • Provide technical mentorship and guidance to EE1 -EE3 engineers and site teams, particularly in relay protection, disturbance analysis, and NERC compliance interpretation • Represent Invenergy in external forums, industry working groups, and engagements with utilities, consultants, and regulatory bodies as needed Requirements • BS in Electrical Engineering or similar major • 5-8 + years of work experience , with experience in protection & control, power systems, substations, or renewable energy applications • Demonstrated experience in protection & control of HV systems • Experience with SEL products & tools • Strong oral and written communication skills • Some travel is require ​ d (< 25%) • Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record. • Eligible to work in the United States without the need for employer visa sponsorship now or in the future. Preferred Skills • Masters in Electrical Engineering , with a Power Systems focus. • Advanced knowledge of three-phase power systems, substations, and high voltage electrical equipment. • Advanced experience with protective relaying schemes and coordination, including settings development, relay event analysis, and maloperation investigations • Advanced experience with IBR systems (solar, storage, wind), including ride-through performance, controls interaction, and disturbance/event analysis • Knowledge and practical field experience of protection system testing and maintenance practices, including NETA-aligned testing, relay maintenance strategies, and data tracking systems • Previous experience with ASPEN /ETAP for relay coordination, protection studies, and short-circuit analysis • Experience with GE Relays • Strong working knowledge of NERC PRC standards • U nderstanding of power system modeling, study interpretation, and coordination with modeling teams or consultants #LI-Hybrid Base Pay 140,000.00 - 165,000.00 USD Annual Bonus: 20% - 30% The base pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target salary for the position. Invenergy considers a number of factors when determining base pay offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education and skills. In addition to base pay, the total annual compensation package may also include eligibility to participate in our bonus program(s) which are designed to reward individual and company performance. Your recruiter can share more about bonus eligibility for this position during the hiring process. Invenergy offers a variety of other benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k, paid time off, etc. Invenergy LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or disability.

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