Lead Protection Engineer | Senior Relay Engineer
3 days ago
Madrid
Company Overview Taylor Hopkinson have partnered with a global leader in green technology, dedicated to providing cutting-edge renewable energy solutions for enterprises, governments, and institutions worldwide. Their mission is to address the challenges of achieving a sustainable future by innovating to reduce the production, storage, and synergy costs of renewable energy. General Description The Senior Protection & Control Manager acts as the key technical reference for the development, standardization, and operational reliability of electrical protection systems across the offshore wind portfolio. This role bridges early-stage project engineering with long-term operational performance, ensuring that protection strategies remain consistent across offshore and onshore substations, inter-array cable networks, wind turbine generators, and grid connection infrastructure. A central responsibility of this position is to advance the implementation of modern protection and control solutions, including digital substation technologies based on IEC 61850 standards such as GOOSE communications and Sampled Values. The role also promotes the harmonization of protection methodologies to ensure consistent engineering practices across multiple projects and geographic markets. Key Responsibilities Technical Governance • Define, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Protection Philosophy applicable to all projects and regions., • Ensure consistent engineering practices, including protection schemes, hardware selection, and system architecture., • Provide technical leadership to guarantee alignment of protection strategies across development and operational phases. Design Standardization • Create standardized engineering templates and protection design frameworks for Onshore Substations (ONS), Offshore Substations (OSS), Wind Turbine Generators (WTG), and inter-array cable systems., • Drive harmonization of design practices to optimize project delivery and simplify procurement processes. Advanced System Studies • Lead or validate advanced protection studies, including relay coordination analysis, short-circuit studies, impedance-based protection configuration, and transient overvoltage (TOV) assessments., • Ensure studies properly reflect the specific electrical behavior of long subsea cable systems with high capacitance. Grid Integration • Support technical engagement with Transmission System Operators (TSOs)., • Ensure protection schemes comply with grid codes, fault clearing requirements, and Fault Ride Through (FRT) performance standards. Root Cause Analysis • Lead investigations following major electrical events or protection system malfunctions., • Analyze disturbance records such as COMTRADE files and relay event data to determine failure mechanisms and implement corrective actions. Lifecycle Management • Define best practices for testing, commissioning, validation, and maintenance of Protection & Control systems., • Ensure long-term reliability and resilience of electrical protection systems throughout the offshore asset lifecycle. Academic Background • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or a related discipline is required., • A Master’s degree (MSc) or PhD specializing in Protection Systems, Control Engineering, or Power Electronics is considered advantageous. Languages Fluent English is required, both written and spoken. Professional Experience • Minimum of 10 years of experience in protection and control engineering., • Proven track record in offshore wind projects or large-scale subsea transmission systems., • Demonstrated experience leading technical teams or managing engineering standards., • Hands-on experience working with major protection relay manufacturers such as SEL, Siemens, ABB, or GE, including integration of IED platforms within SCADA, DCS, or IEC 61850-based systems. Technical Knowledge • IEC 61850: Strong understanding of digital substation architectures, including GOOSE messaging and Sampled Values., • Subsea Cable Protection: Expertise in the challenges associated with high-capacitance cable systems, such as charging currents, resonance phenomena, and directional protection behaviour., • Wind Turbine Generators: Knowledge of the fault response characteristics of inverter-based wind turbines., • Standards & Grid Codes: Familiarity with international protection standards such as IEC 60255, IEEE C37 series, and relevant transmission system requirements. Key Skills • Simulation Tools: Advanced experience with power system analysis tools such as DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, PSCAD, ASPEN, or similar platforms., • Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze disturbance data, identify root causes of failures, and develop effective mitigation strategies., • Communication: Capable of presenting complex technical concepts clearly to both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders., • Collaboration: Strong ability to coordinate with multidisciplinary teams across international locations., • Problem Solving: Proactive in identifying technical risks and implementing robust protection solutions. Additional Information This position can be based in Madrid or Edinburgh, with occasional international travel depending on project and operational requirements. Optional – Final Comments If you are passionate and have the qualifications we are seeking, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Guillem Olmos at Taylor Hopkinson
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