Power Systems Engineer Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Power systems engineers are among the most consistently sponsored roles in the U.S. energy sector. Employers regularly file H-1B visa and O-1 visa petitions for qualified candidates, and the specialty occupation designation is straightforward for degree holders in electrical engineering or power systems. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Whether you're a recent grad or a seasoned professional, you can experience meaningful career growth at Rosendin. Enjoy a true sense of ownership as you work with a proven industry leader on some of the most exciting and high-profile projects in the nation. We offer a wide range of job opportunities, competitive compensation, full benefits, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and more.
Why Rosendin?
Committed. Innovative. Engaged.
If you're looking to take your career to the next level and work with some of the best and brightest in the industry, we want to hear from you. Since our founding over 100+ years ago, Rosendin has been driven to positively impact the communities where we live and work. We are an organization built on integrity and we have a culture that empowers people, embraces diversity, and inspires everyone to do their best. As one of the largest EMPLOYEE-OWNED electrical contractors in the United States, you will have the unique benefit of being a shareholder at a company that is experiencing tremendous growth and success. When our people succeed and fuel our success, we reward them. We'd love to have you as a shareholder!
YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY:
Power System Protection Engineer III is a senior-level engineering position responsible for performing protection studies and developing relay settings to support the implementation, commissioning, and testing of protection systems for electrical power networks. This role focuses on designing and applying protection strategies for medium and high-voltage systems serving mission critical, commercial, and industrial facilities. The position requires advanced technical expertise, the ability to work independently on complex protection challenges, and the capability to mentor and train other engineering staff.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Design, specification, setting calculation, and coordination of protective relaying and relay control schemes.
- Develop protection schemes and relay settings for electrical equipment, including transformers, generators, transmission lines, feeders, and buses, in accordance with client requirements and system specifications.
- Develop and configure protection relay settings, including overcurrent, differential, distance and backup protection relays.
- Perform coordination studies to ensure proper relay operation and minimize system downtime during fault conditions.
- Use power system modeling tools (e.g. ETAP, SKM, CAPE, ASPEN) to simulate and analyze protection systems, fault scenarios, and equipment ratings.
- Conduct studies such as fault analysis, short circuit, AC and DC arc flash and harmonics studies.
- Support field testing, commissioning, and validation of protection relays and control systems to ensure proper operation and compliance with project requirements.
- Diagnose and troubleshoot relay protection issues, perform root cause analysis, and develop corrective actions for mis-operations or unexpected trips.
- Collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and clients to ensure the successful implementation of protection systems.
- Prepare technical documentation, including relay settings, test reports, system protection studies, and coordination diagrams.
- Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., IEEE, IEC, NEC, NFPA 70E, NERC).
- Act as a proactive technical leader, guiding project teams, solving complex protection challenges, and supporting project execution across all phases from design through commissioning.
WHAT YOU BRING TO US:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a power systems focus.
- 6+ years relevant application experience in protection and relay settings for electric power systems supporting mission critical infrastructure, commercial and industrial facilities and substations.
- A U.S.-based Professional Engineer (PE) registration is required.
- High proficiency with power system modeling tools such as ETAP, SKM, ASPEN, and CAPE.
- Applied knowledge and experience of Power system Protection on: Overcurrent / Over-Undervoltage, Transformer Differential, High and Low Impedance Busbar Differential, Generator Protection, Motor Protection, and Medium/High Voltage Line Differential and Distance Protection.
- Strong experience developing protection schemes and relay settings for redundant power architectures supporting data centers and other mission critical facilities.
- High proficiency in relay settings development and programming for SEL, Siemens, and GE protective relays.
- Experience developing and managing relay settings files using vendor software such as SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, or equivalent.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical teams.
- Strong leadership, written and oral communication, and organizational skills.
- Strong computer skills with the ability to identify and apply appropriate software tools to support complex engineering analysis.
- Proven ability to manage.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:
- Advanced experience using Mathcad and Microsoft Excel for developing protective setting calculation sheets.
- Working knowledge of NERC reliability standards, particularly PRC-019/023/024/025/026/027.
- Experience with commonly utilized communication protocols (DNP, SEL, MMS, Modbus, etc).
- Working Knowledge of IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and its application in modern substations and mission critical facilities.
- Experience designing and supporting protection systems for redundant power topologies (e.g., N, N+1, 2N) common to data center electrical systems.
- Proven ability to lead small to mid-size projects, including management of schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical execution.
- Experience supporting proposal development including scope of work, level of work, engineering estimates, and schedule.
- Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated interest in training and developing early career engineers.
- Demonstrated success managing complex protection engineering tasks within multidisciplinary, fast-paced project environments.
TRAVEL:
- Up to 50% (Does not include local field visits)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- General work environment - sitting for long periods, standing, walking, typing, carrying, pushing, bending. Work is conducted primarily indoors with varying environmental conditions, such as fluorescent lighting and air conditioning.
- Noise level is usually low to medium.
- Occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs.
- We fully comply with the ADA and applicable state law, including considering reasonable accommodation measures that may enable qualified disabled applicants and employees to perform essential functions.
Rosendin Electric is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, age (over 40), or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
YOU Matter - Our Benefits
- ESOP - Employee Stock Ownership
- 401K
- Annual bonus program based upon performance, profitability, and achievement
- 17 PTO days per year plus 10 paid holidays
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Term Life, AD&D Insurance, and Voluntary Life Insurance
- Disability Income Protection Insurance
- Pre-tax Flexible Spending Plans (Health and Dependent Care)
- Charitable Giving Match with our Rosendin Foundation
Pay Range
$102,400.00-$134,300.00 Annual
The pay range for this role is what we expect to pay for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed on this job description. Candidate's pay can vary based on location, job-related experience, skills, and education.
Our success is rooted in our people. We all come together around long-term vision and a sense of shared ownership. As a group, we do whatever it takes to ensure the success of our business and your career.
Rosendin is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, age (over 40), or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
INTRODUCTION
Whether you're a recent grad or a seasoned professional, you can experience meaningful career growth at Rosendin. Enjoy a true sense of ownership as you work with a proven industry leader on some of the most exciting and high-profile projects in the nation. We offer a wide range of job opportunities, competitive compensation, full benefits, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan and more.
Why Rosendin?
Committed. Innovative. Engaged.
If you're looking to take your career to the next level and work with some of the best and brightest in the industry, we want to hear from you. Since our founding over 100+ years ago, Rosendin has been driven to positively impact the communities where we live and work. We are an organization built on integrity and we have a culture that empowers people, embraces diversity, and inspires everyone to do their best. As one of the largest EMPLOYEE-OWNED electrical contractors in the United States, you will have the unique benefit of being a shareholder at a company that is experiencing tremendous growth and success. When our people succeed and fuel our success, we reward them. We'd love to have you as a shareholder!
YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY:
Power System Protection Engineer III is a senior-level engineering position responsible for performing protection studies and developing relay settings to support the implementation, commissioning, and testing of protection systems for electrical power networks. This role focuses on designing and applying protection strategies for medium and high-voltage systems serving mission critical, commercial, and industrial facilities. The position requires advanced technical expertise, the ability to work independently on complex protection challenges, and the capability to mentor and train other engineering staff.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:
- Design, specification, setting calculation, and coordination of protective relaying and relay control schemes.
- Develop protection schemes and relay settings for electrical equipment, including transformers, generators, transmission lines, feeders, and buses, in accordance with client requirements and system specifications.
- Develop and configure protection relay settings, including overcurrent, differential, distance and backup protection relays.
- Perform coordination studies to ensure proper relay operation and minimize system downtime during fault conditions.
- Use power system modeling tools (e.g. ETAP, SKM, CAPE, ASPEN) to simulate and analyze protection systems, fault scenarios, and equipment ratings.
- Conduct studies such as fault analysis, short circuit, AC and DC arc flash and harmonics studies.
- Support field testing, commissioning, and validation of protection relays and control systems to ensure proper operation and compliance with project requirements.
- Diagnose and troubleshoot relay protection issues, perform root cause analysis, and develop corrective actions for mis-operations or unexpected trips.
- Collaborate with other engineers, project managers, and clients to ensure the successful implementation of protection systems.
- Prepare technical documentation, including relay settings, test reports, system protection studies, and coordination diagrams.
- Ensure compliance with applicable industry standards and regulatory requirements (e.g., IEEE, IEC, NEC, NFPA 70E, NERC).
- Act as a proactive technical leader, guiding project teams, solving complex protection challenges, and supporting project execution across all phases from design through commissioning.
WHAT YOU BRING TO US:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) with a power systems focus.
- 6+ years relevant application experience in protection and relay settings for electric power systems supporting mission critical infrastructure, commercial and industrial facilities and substations.
- A U.S.-based Professional Engineer (PE) registration is required.
- High proficiency with power system modeling tools such as ETAP, SKM, ASPEN, and CAPE.
- Applied knowledge and experience of Power system Protection on: Overcurrent / Over-Undervoltage, Transformer Differential, High and Low Impedance Busbar Differential, Generator Protection, Motor Protection, and Medium/High Voltage Line Differential and Distance Protection.
- Strong experience developing protection schemes and relay settings for redundant power architectures supporting data centers and other mission critical facilities.
- High proficiency in relay settings development and programming for SEL, Siemens, and GE protective relays.
- Experience developing and managing relay settings files using vendor software such as SEL AcSELerator, GE Enervista, or equivalent.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical teams.
- Strong leadership, written and oral communication, and organizational skills.
- Strong computer skills with the ability to identify and apply appropriate software tools to support complex engineering analysis.
- Proven ability to manage.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL:
- Advanced experience using Mathcad and Microsoft Excel for developing protective setting calculation sheets.
- Working knowledge of NERC reliability standards, particularly PRC-019/023/024/025/026/027.
- Experience with commonly utilized communication protocols (DNP, SEL, MMS, Modbus, etc).
- Working Knowledge of IEC 61850 (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and its application in modern substations and mission critical facilities.
- Experience designing and supporting protection systems for redundant power topologies (e.g., N, N+1, 2N) common to data center electrical systems.
- Proven ability to lead small to mid-size projects, including management of schedules, budgets, staffing, and technical execution.
- Experience supporting proposal development including scope of work, level of work, engineering estimates, and schedule.
- Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated interest in training and developing early career engineers.
- Demonstrated success managing complex protection engineering tasks within multidisciplinary, fast-paced project environments.
TRAVEL:
- Up to 50% (Does not include local field visits)
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- General work environment - sitting for long periods, standing, walking, typing, carrying, pushing, bending. Work is conducted primarily indoors with varying environmental conditions, such as fluorescent lighting and air conditioning.
- Noise level is usually low to medium.
- Occasional lifting of up to 40 lbs.
- We fully comply with the ADA and applicable state law, including considering reasonable accommodation measures that may enable qualified disabled applicants and employees to perform essential functions.
Rosendin Electric is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, age (over 40), or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
YOU Matter - Our Benefits
- ESOP - Employee Stock Ownership
- 401K
- Annual bonus program based upon performance, profitability, and achievement
- 17 PTO days per year plus 10 paid holidays
- Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Term Life, AD&D Insurance, and Voluntary Life Insurance
- Disability Income Protection Insurance
- Pre-tax Flexible Spending Plans (Health and Dependent Care)
- Charitable Giving Match with our Rosendin Foundation
Pay Range
$102,400.00-$134,300.00 Annual
The pay range for this role is what we expect to pay for candidates that meet the specified qualifications and requirements listed on this job description. Candidate's pay can vary based on location, job-related experience, skills, and education.
Our success is rooted in our people. We all come together around long-term vision and a sense of shared ownership. As a group, we do whatever it takes to ensure the success of our business and your career.
Rosendin is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, age (over 40), or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
See all 4,259+ Power Systems Engineer Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Power Systems Engineer roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Power Systems Engineer
Target utilities and independent power producers first
Large investor-owned utilities like Duke Energy, Dominion, and PG&E have established immigration programs and file H-1B petitions routinely. They're far more likely to sponsor than smaller engineering consultancies or project developers without dedicated HR infrastructure.
Lead with grid-specific technical skills in your resume
Employers and immigration attorneys need to demonstrate specialty occupation status. Highlighting PSCAD, PSS/E, ETAP, or protection relay experience makes the visa case significantly stronger and signals you're not a generalist electrical engineer.
An electrical engineering degree in power is the cleanest path
H-1B specialty occupation requires a directly related bachelor's degree or higher. A degree specifically in electrical engineering, power systems, or energy engineering maps cleanly. Computer science or general engineering degrees create more documentation work for the petitioner.
Understand that OPT STEM extension covers this role
Power systems engineering falls under qualifying STEM categories for the 24-month OPT extension. If you're on F-1 status, you have up to three years of authorized work time before needing H-1B cap selection, which is meaningful runway.
PE licensure strengthens your sponsorship case considerably
A Professional Engineer license signals elite technical standing to both employers and USCIS. While not required for specialty occupation approval, PE-licensed candidates are easier to sponsor and tend to receive stronger internal advocacy from hiring managers and legal teams.
Renewable energy and grid modernization projects attract sponsors
Solar interconnection, battery storage, and transmission planning teams are hiring aggressively and struggling to find qualified U.S. candidates. These project areas generate strong business necessity arguments that support visa petitions, making sponsorship approvals more predictable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is power systems engineer a qualifying specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes, consistently. USCIS regularly approves H-1B visa petitions for power systems engineers because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a directly related field. DOL LCA disclosure data shows high volumes of approved filings in this title across utilities, EPCs, and grid operators, which makes building the specialty occupation argument relatively straightforward compared to more ambiguous roles.
What degree do I need for an employer to sponsor my H-1B as a power systems engineer?
An electrical engineering degree, ideally with a power systems concentration, is the strongest credential. Employers can also petition for candidates with degrees in energy systems, applied physics, or related fields, but the petition requires more documentation showing the degree is normally the minimum for the position. A master's degree in power systems is a significant advantage, both for sponsorship and for cap-exempt opportunities at universities and national labs.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor power systems engineers?
Investor-owned utilities, regional transmission organizations, independent power producers, and large EPC firms sponsor at the highest rates. Federal contractors working on grid reliability, DOE-affiliated national laboratories, and renewable energy developers have also become active sponsors as transmission and interconnection backlogs have grown. You can browse verified sponsoring employers actively hiring power systems engineers on Migrate Mate.
Can I get an O-1A visa as a power systems engineer?
Yes, if you have demonstrable national or international recognition in the field. Published research on grid stability, protection systems, or power quality, patents, speaking at IEEE PES conferences, or recognition as a subject matter expert in major grid modernization projects can all support O-1A criteria. The O-1A has no lottery, making it attractive for candidates with strong technical profiles who didn't get selected in H-1B registration.
How competitive is the H-1B lottery for power systems engineers compared to software roles?
Selection odds are identical because the lottery doesn't differentiate by occupation. In recent registration cycles, the general pool saw roughly 25% selection rates. However, power systems engineers benefit from a practical advantage: many employers in this space, including utilities and national laboratories, qualify as cap-exempt H-1B sponsors, meaning their petitions bypass the lottery entirely and can be filed year-round.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Power Systems Engineer jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.