Senior Protection Engineer

at  ACCIONA

ACCIONA is a global company, leading in the development of regenerative infrastructure that creates a positive impact on society. Our workforce consists of more than 60,000 professionals, present in more than 40 countries across the five continents, all contributing in our mission to design a better planet. Are you a passionate individual who wants to make a difference, promote sustainable development, and find solutions to the biggest global challenges including climate change, overpopulation, and water scarcity? Come and join us in building the infrastructure our planet needs to achieve a sustainable future.
Job Description
At ACCIONA, we drive Australia’s energy transformation through innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions. Join us to deliver high-voltage substation designs and lead technical excellence in Transmission and Distribution (T&D) projects across Australia.
Join a groundbreaking team driving Australia’s largest infrastructure T&D project. As a Senior Protection Engineer, you will be pivotal in delivering innovative, high-voltage substation designs (up to 500kV) for this nationally significant development in NSW.
This transformative project will feature cutting-edge transmission network infrastructure designed to revolutionize energy distribution across the region. The development includes the construction of advanced transmission lines and energy hubs to connect a vast network of solar and wind farms. These systems will work seamlessly to deliver clean, renewable power to homes and businesses, meeting the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions while supporting Australia’s transition to a greener future.

What You’ll Do

• Design & Analysis: Create and review protection schemes for transmission, distribution, and generation systems, including relay coordination, fault studies, and protection settings.
• Testing & Commissioning: Oversee testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting of protection systems to ensure optimal performance.
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to industry standards (IEC, IEEE), regulatory requirements, and client specifications while contributing to the development of internal standards.
• Project Leadership: Lead protection engineering aspects of projects, manage timelines and budgets, and collaborate with clients, contractors, and teams to drive success.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and leadership to junior engineers while reviewing and approving their work.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive process innovation and best practices through technical reviews and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field (Engineers Australia accreditation preferred).
• 10+ years of proven experience in protection engineering, including relay settings, testing, and commissioning.
• Familiarity with major protection system manufacturers (e.g., Siemens, GE, ABB, SEL).
• Advanced knowledge of HV protection schemes, power system fundamentals, fault analysis, and secondary system design.
• Proficiency with software tools like ETAP, DIgSILENT, ASPEN, and PSCAD.
• Deep understanding of communication protocols such as IEC 61850 and GOOSE messaging.
• Practical experience with testing and configuring protection relays across multiple platforms.
• Chartered Engineer (CPEng) certification.
• Certifications in protection systems from recognized manufacturers or institutions.

ACCIONA has been given the Top Employer 2022, 2023 & 2024 certification in Australia, which certifies the company’s commitment to excellence in human resources management and those who focus on putting their people first through their exceptional HR policies. Since establishing a presence in Australia in 2002, ACCIONA has made significant investments in local opportunities and project development. ACCIONA employs more than 3,000 people in its renewable energy, infrastructure and water projects across Australia & New Zealand.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and promote equality and diversity. Indigenous Australians and candidates from minority groups are encouraged to apply

• Design & Analysis: Create and review protection schemes for transmission, distribution, and generation systems, including relay coordination, fault studies, and protection settings.
• Testing & Commissioning: Oversee testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting of protection systems to ensure optimal performance.
• Compliance & Standards: Ensure adherence to industry standards (IEC, IEEE), regulatory requirements, and client specifications while contributing to the development of internal standards.
• Project Leadership: Lead protection engineering aspects of projects, manage timelines and budgets, and collaborate with clients, contractors, and teams to drive success.
• Mentorship: Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and leadership to junior engineers while reviewing and approving their work.
• Continuous Improvement: Drive process innovation and best practices through technical reviews and knowledge-sharing initiatives