OPT Power Systems Engineer Jobs
Power Systems Engineer jobs are among the more OPT-friendly engineering roles because utilities, grid operators, and energy companies routinely sponsor H-1B visas, giving STEM OPT students a clear 3-year runway. Demand is rising with grid modernization, renewable integration, and EV infrastructure expansion driving consistent hiring.
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Get Access To All JobsWe are seeking a skilled, passionate and dedicated Protection Engineer to join our SEL Engineering Services team. As a Power System Protection Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the reliable and secure operation of power systems by designing, testing, implementing, and effective protection and control schemes. Your expertise in relay protection and controls, relay coordination, and power systems will provide solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide.
As a Protection Engineer, a typical day might include the following:
- Design, develop, and implement protection and control schemes for power systems, including relay protection and control systems.
- Create protective relay settings for transmission & distribution utilities, substations, and industrial clients.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including project managers, engineers, and technicians, to assess system requirements and implement protection strategies accordingly.
- Work alongside industry-recognized protection experts while developing expertise in advanced relay technologies, automation systems, transmission protection, and utility modernization initiatives.
- Perform system testing and commissioning activities to validate the functionality and performance of protection schemes.
- Following and applying SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.
This job might be for you if:
- You have a B.S. or M.S. degree in electrical engineering or relevant discipline.
- You have a strong understanding of power system protection principles, relay protection and control schemes, and relay coordination techniques.
- You are familiar with relevant industry standards, such as IEEE, IEC, and NERC/FERC regulations.
- You have proven experience in designing and implementing protection and control schemes in a utility or industrial setting.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex power system protection challenges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Possesses, understands and applies the fundamental concepts, practices and procedures of power system protection and related SEL products.
- Train and assist customers with the creation, design, configuration, validation, installation, commissioning and operation of automation and/or protection systems.
- Complete and implement assigned work within agreed upon scope, schedule and budget to a high level of quality and safety.
- Participate in the preparation of functional design specifications.
- Prepare and maintain detailed design documents, reports, checklists, test reports, and deliverables.
- Follow and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.
- Understand. Create. Simplify.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering or relevant discipline.
- 3+ years relevant application experience with electric power systems, industry practices, and protection design practices and philosophies.
- Good knowledge of electric power system protection and control.
- Working knowledge of electric power system design, studies, information and communication technology and protective relay applications.
- Willing to travel both domestically and internationally a minimum of 25% based on focus area.
- Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills.
- Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
- Background check results satisfactory to SEL.
- Negative drug test result(s).
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional Engineer License or equivalent certification.
- Electrical utility, industrial plant, consulting engineering, or system integrator experience.
- Project engineering experience.
- Experience developing ac/dc schematics, single line diagrams, wiring diagrams for protection and control applications.
- Experience developing settings configuration files for SEL devices using AcSELerator QuickSet.
Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in the electrical power industry. Join Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and help shape the future of critical infrastructure!
Location Information:
- Houston, TX - This position is located in Houston, TX. Ranked America's fourth largest city, whatever your interest you will find it here. Enjoy sports teams, world class dining, and first rate entertainment. Enjoy signature Houston attractions like Space Center Houston and The Grand Opera. Escape the city with easy beach access just one hour away. Houston offers exceptional schools and universities, making it a great place to live and work.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Pay Range Data
New hires generally start between $110,000 - 175,000. We base our starting pay offer on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Our salary ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location.
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
We are seeking a skilled, passionate and dedicated Protection Engineer to join our SEL Engineering Services team. As a Power System Protection Engineer, you will be responsible for ensuring the reliable and secure operation of power systems by designing, testing, implementing, and effective protection and control schemes. Your expertise in relay protection and controls, relay coordination, and power systems will provide solutions and services that help our customers protect and control critical electrical infrastructure and power systems worldwide.
As a Protection Engineer, a typical day might include the following:
- Design, develop, and implement protection and control schemes for power systems, including relay protection and control systems.
- Create protective relay settings for transmission & distribution utilities, substations, and industrial clients.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including project managers, engineers, and technicians, to assess system requirements and implement protection strategies accordingly.
- Work alongside industry-recognized protection experts while developing expertise in advanced relay technologies, automation systems, transmission protection, and utility modernization initiatives.
- Perform system testing and commissioning activities to validate the functionality and performance of protection schemes.
- Following and applying SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.
This job might be for you if:
- You have a B.S. or M.S. degree in electrical engineering or relevant discipline.
- You have a strong understanding of power system protection principles, relay protection and control schemes, and relay coordination techniques.
- You are familiar with relevant industry standards, such as IEEE, IEC, and NERC/FERC regulations.
- You have proven experience in designing and implementing protection and control schemes in a utility or industrial setting.
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to analyze complex power system protection challenges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Possesses, understands and applies the fundamental concepts, practices and procedures of power system protection and related SEL products.
- Train and assist customers with the creation, design, configuration, validation, installation, commissioning and operation of automation and/or protection systems.
- Complete and implement assigned work within agreed upon scope, schedule and budget to a high level of quality and safety.
- Participate in the preparation of functional design specifications.
- Prepare and maintain detailed design documents, reports, checklists, test reports, and deliverables.
- Follow and apply SEL Values, Principles of Operations, and World Class Manufacturing Principles.
- Understand. Create. Simplify.
- Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering or relevant discipline.
- 3+ years relevant application experience with electric power systems, industry practices, and protection design practices and philosophies.
- Good knowledge of electric power system protection and control.
- Working knowledge of electric power system design, studies, information and communication technology and protective relay applications.
- Willing to travel both domestically and internationally a minimum of 25% based on focus area.
- Strong writing, documentation, and speaking skills.
- Ability to learn new skills and assume new responsibilities.
- Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.
- Background check results satisfactory to SEL.
- Negative drug test result(s).
Preferred Qualifications
- Professional Engineer License or equivalent certification.
- Electrical utility, industrial plant, consulting engineering, or system integrator experience.
- Project engineering experience.
- Experience developing ac/dc schematics, single line diagrams, wiring diagrams for protection and control applications.
- Experience developing settings configuration files for SEL devices using AcSELerator QuickSet.
Don't miss this opportunity to make a difference in the electrical power industry. Join Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and help shape the future of critical infrastructure!
Location Information:
- Houston, TX - This position is located in Houston, TX. Ranked America's fourth largest city, whatever your interest you will find it here. Enjoy sports teams, world class dining, and first rate entertainment. Enjoy signature Houston attractions like Space Center Houston and The Grand Opera. Escape the city with easy beach access just one hour away. Houston offers exceptional schools and universities, making it a great place to live and work.
Competitive pay. Superior benefits. Inspiring work.
People are at the core of our company and we hire employee-owners. We welcome you to learn more about how we support employees.
- We’re 100% employee owned. Retirement benefits include an employer funded stock ownership plan (ESOP) and personal 401(k) options.
- We offer top tier medical, prescription, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
- We recognize the importance of a healthy life balance and offer: 10 paid holidays, annual vacation accrual starting at 12 days, 9 paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave that covers 90% of your pay.
- We foster growth and development of our employees through avenues such as STEM courses, apprenticeships, tuition assistance, and engineering development programs.
- Ask our team about other benefits including wellness, fertility, adoption, and flexible spending benefits.
Pay Range Data
New hires generally start between $110,000 - 175,000. We base our starting pay offer on location and job-related factors such as candidate experience, training, knowledge, and skills. Our salary ranges are determined by job, responsibility, and location.
Communication with Applicants
We communicate with all applicants. If you do not receive a response about your application, please check your SPAM filter or reach out to us at careers@selinc.com.
SEL is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Vets/Disabled.
See all 794+ OPT Power Systems Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Power Systems Engineer Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Power Systems Engineer
Target utilities and grid operators first
Investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy, Dominion, and PG&E have established immigration programs and sponsor consistently. They hire power systems engineers at scale, making them more reliable OPT sponsors than smaller energy consultancies.
Emphasize your STEM OPT extension eligibility
Electrical Engineering degrees qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you three years total. Lead with this in outreach emails to recruiters so they understand sponsorship timelines before your initial OPT period ends.
Align your application to grid modernization projects
Employers prioritizing SCADA systems, smart grid infrastructure, and renewable integration are actively hiring. Framing your coursework and projects around these areas directly addresses the skills shortage driving the most sponsorship-friendly job openings.
Get licensed or start the PE process early
Many power systems roles require a Professional Engineer license long-term. Passing the FE exam during OPT signals commitment to a U.S. career and makes you a stronger H-1B petition candidate when your employer files.
Prioritize national labs and federal contractors carefully
National labs like Oak Ridge and Argonne hire power engineers but often require security clearances unavailable to most OPT students. Focus on private-sector grid companies and engineering consultancies where clearance requirements are less common.
Use your OPT period to build a specialty, not breadth
Employers sponsoring H-1B visas want demonstrable expertise in one area, whether protection and control, transmission planning, or power electronics. Specializing during OPT makes your sponsorship petition significantly stronger and easier to justify.
Power Systems Engineer OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Power Systems Engineer jobs commonly offer OPT and H-1B sponsorship?
Yes, power systems engineering is one of the stronger fields for visa sponsorship. Utilities, independent system operators, and energy consultancies routinely sponsor H-1B petitions because qualified candidates are scarce. You can browse verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for companies open to OPT and H-1B candidates.
Does a Power Systems Engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Most power systems engineers hold degrees in Electrical Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering, both of which appear on the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. That qualifies you for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you three years of work authorization total before needing H-1B sponsorship.
Are there security clearance issues for OPT students in power systems roles?
Some roles, particularly at federal contractors, national laboratories, and grid security divisions of utilities, require security clearances that most OPT students cannot obtain as non-permanent residents. Private-sector positions in transmission planning, substation design, and power electronics typically do not have clearance requirements and are generally accessible to OPT candidates.
What types of employers hire Power Systems Engineers on OPT?
The strongest hiring sectors are investor-owned utilities, regional transmission organizations, renewable energy developers, and engineering consulting firms. Companies focused on grid modernization, offshore wind, and EV charging infrastructure are actively expanding their power systems teams and have demonstrated willingness to sponsor OPT-to-H-1B transitions.
What should I highlight on my resume when applying for Power Systems Engineer jobs on OPT?
Prioritize technical skills directly tied to open grid challenges: power flow analysis, protection and control systems, SCADA, and familiarity with tools like PSCAD, PSS/E, or ETAP. Capstone projects, internships, or research involving renewable integration or transmission planning are especially compelling. Your STEM OPT eligibility and remaining authorization period are worth including so employers understand your timeline.