Relay Technician Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Relay technicians maintain and repair electrical protection systems in power grids, qualifying for H-1B visa and other work visas as specialized electrical engineering roles. Most positions require an electrical engineering degree and hands-on experience with relay testing equipment. Utility companies and electrical contractors regularly sponsor visas for experienced relay technicians due to specialized skill requirements.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Sr. Relay Technician
About The Company: Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering organization specializing in electrical acceptance testing, commissioning, and maintenance for clients across Data Centers, Utility, Generation, Renewables, Transit, Industrial and Commercial Facilities throughout North America. We are committed to safety, technical expertise, and setting the standard of excellence in the power industry.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Perks:
- Competitive Pay
- Talent Development – Instructor-Led Technical Courses and Online Learning
- Career Path Planning
- Incentives for Professional Certifications
- Competitive Per Diem for Travel
- Referral Bonuses
- Tuition Reimbursement
Position Summary: The Sr. Relay Technician performs and supervises electrical testing, maintenance and troubleshooting relays in electrical power stations. Your duties involve using relay test equipment and tools to test several types of relays inside the electrical substation.
Responsibilities:
- Lead safety briefings on job site, identify, eliminate, or mitigate hazards.
- Utilize Human Performance Error Elimination concepts and tools.
- Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components.
- Perform installation, commissioning, testing, and function testing of substation control circuits on relay panel, transformer & circuit breaker change-outs.
- Ability to analyze event records and make informed deductions.
- Develop Project Execution, Commissioning, Outage Sequence & Energization Procedures.
- Project management of large scale and complex projects.
- Train and qualify Relay Technician I, II, or Relay Engineer I.
- Interact with customers.
- Perform complex troubleshooting.
- Perform end-to-end relay testing using relay test software and analyze the operation of the relay based on the fault type run.
- Lead investigations of electrical related issues, including root cause analysis as needed.
- Calibrate & perform functional tests on both electromechanical and microprocessor based protective relays for substations.
- Function as an on-site lead for the project, assign tasks, prioritize activities and interface with customers.
- Read and fully understand protection and control schematic diagrams and wiring diagrams and catch mistakes and problems with the drawings and design when comparing with accepted engineering and customer standards.
- Determine and interpret customer’s requirements and provide final deliverables including as built prints and all test results meeting specified requirements.
- Understand manufactures’ literature to facilitate testing.
Qualifications
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Able to pass a pre-employment drug screen.
- Complete a satisfactory criminal background check.
- Able to work overtime and travel out of town for periods of time.
- Must have a valid driver's license and currently have and be able to maintain a safe driving record.
- Hands on experience installing, maintaining, testing & repairing protective relays in transmission, generation, or distribution level substations.
- Capable of trouble shooting distribution and transmission controls circuits.
- Knowledge of relay test software.
Preferred Skills/Abilities:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience installing, maintaining, testing, or repairing circuit breakers, transformers, switchgear, or similar equipment.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's or associate degree in electrical/Electronic technology, Military Experience, or 4-year Engineering Degree, preferred.
- 5+ Years of Relevant Industry Experience.
- NETA III/IV Certified, preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Able to climb ladders, stand for extended periods, able to lift 70 lbs.
EPS is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), political affiliation, military service, national origin, age or any other characteristics protected by state or federal laws. EPS does not work with individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies, and will not recognize claim to any unsolicited resumes or candidate information.
PoweringTheFuture
Job Title: Sr. Relay Technician
About The Company: Electric Power Systems (EPS) is a NETA-accredited independent electrical testing and engineering organization specializing in electrical acceptance testing, commissioning, and maintenance for clients across Data Centers, Utility, Generation, Renewables, Transit, Industrial and Commercial Facilities throughout North America. We are committed to safety, technical expertise, and setting the standard of excellence in the power industry.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
- Health Savings Account (HSA) and a Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Perks:
- Competitive Pay
- Talent Development – Instructor-Led Technical Courses and Online Learning
- Career Path Planning
- Incentives for Professional Certifications
- Competitive Per Diem for Travel
- Referral Bonuses
- Tuition Reimbursement
Position Summary: The Sr. Relay Technician performs and supervises electrical testing, maintenance and troubleshooting relays in electrical power stations. Your duties involve using relay test equipment and tools to test several types of relays inside the electrical substation.
Responsibilities:
- Lead safety briefings on job site, identify, eliminate, or mitigate hazards.
- Utilize Human Performance Error Elimination concepts and tools.
- Analyze protection schemes for power circuits and other power system components.
- Perform installation, commissioning, testing, and function testing of substation control circuits on relay panel, transformer & circuit breaker change-outs.
- Ability to analyze event records and make informed deductions.
- Develop Project Execution, Commissioning, Outage Sequence & Energization Procedures.
- Project management of large scale and complex projects.
- Train and qualify Relay Technician I, II, or Relay Engineer I.
- Interact with customers.
- Perform complex troubleshooting.
- Perform end-to-end relay testing using relay test software and analyze the operation of the relay based on the fault type run.
- Lead investigations of electrical related issues, including root cause analysis as needed.
- Calibrate & perform functional tests on both electromechanical and microprocessor based protective relays for substations.
- Function as an on-site lead for the project, assign tasks, prioritize activities and interface with customers.
- Read and fully understand protection and control schematic diagrams and wiring diagrams and catch mistakes and problems with the drawings and design when comparing with accepted engineering and customer standards.
- Determine and interpret customer’s requirements and provide final deliverables including as built prints and all test results meeting specified requirements.
- Understand manufactures’ literature to facilitate testing.
Qualifications
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Able to pass a pre-employment drug screen.
- Complete a satisfactory criminal background check.
- Able to work overtime and travel out of town for periods of time.
- Must have a valid driver's license and currently have and be able to maintain a safe driving record.
- Hands on experience installing, maintaining, testing & repairing protective relays in transmission, generation, or distribution level substations.
- Capable of trouble shooting distribution and transmission controls circuits.
- Knowledge of relay test software.
Preferred Skills/Abilities:
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience installing, maintaining, testing, or repairing circuit breakers, transformers, switchgear, or similar equipment.
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's or associate degree in electrical/Electronic technology, Military Experience, or 4-year Engineering Degree, preferred.
- 5+ Years of Relevant Industry Experience.
- NETA III/IV Certified, preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Able to climb ladders, stand for extended periods, able to lift 70 lbs.
EPS is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), political affiliation, military service, national origin, age or any other characteristics protected by state or federal laws. EPS does not work with individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies, and will not recognize claim to any unsolicited resumes or candidate information.
PoweringTheFuture
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Relay Technician
Target utility companies and large electrical contractors
Major utilities like Duke Energy, PG&E, and electrical contractors such as Quanta Services frequently sponsor H-1B visas for relay technicians with specialized protection system experience.
Emphasize your protection system certifications
Highlight SEL, GE, or ABB relay system certifications in your application. These specialized credentials strengthen the specialty occupation argument for visa approval.
Document your SCADA and testing equipment experience
Detail experience with specific relay testing equipment, SCADA systems, and power system analysis software. This technical specialization supports H-1B specialty occupation requirements.
Apply to renewable energy infrastructure projects
Solar and wind farm developers need relay technicians for grid interconnection projects. These growing sectors often have visa sponsorship budgets for qualified candidates.
Consider industrial facilities beyond utilities
Large manufacturing plants, data centers, and hospitals need relay technicians for their electrical systems. These employers may have less competition for sponsored positions.
Network through IEEE Power & Energy Society chapters
Join local IEEE chapters to connect with utility engineers and electrical contractors. Many relay technician positions are filled through professional referrals rather than job boards.
Relay Technician jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Relay Technician JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do relay technicians qualify for H-1B specialty occupation status?
Yes, relay technician positions typically qualify as specialty occupations when they require an electrical engineering degree and involve specialized protection system work. The role's technical complexity and degree requirement usually satisfy USCIS specialty occupation criteria, though job descriptions must emphasize engineering analysis rather than routine maintenance tasks.
What degree do I need for H-1B sponsorship as a relay technician?
Most sponsored relay technician positions require a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, power systems engineering, or closely related field. Some employers may accept electrical technology degrees combined with significant relay testing experience, but engineering degrees provide stronger H-1B petitions.
Which visa options work best for relay technicians?
H-1B is the primary option for relay technicians with engineering degrees. TN visa works for Canadian and Mexican citizens in engineering roles. L-1 may apply if transferring within multinational utility companies. O-1 is possible for technicians with extraordinary expertise in specialized protection systems.
How competitive is H-1B sponsorship for relay technicians?
Moderately competitive, as utility companies and electrical contractors do sponsor visas but have limited budgets. Your chances improve with specialized certifications in protection systems, experience with utility-scale projects, and targeting companies with active infrastructure expansion or modernization programs.
How to find Relay Technician jobs with visa sponsorship?
To find Relay Technician jobs with visa sponsorship, use Migrate Mate, which specializes in connecting international candidates with sponsoring employers. Focus on utility companies, power generation facilities, and electrical contractors that frequently hire relay technicians on H-1B, TN, or EB-3 visas. These employers often sponsor skilled electrical professionals due to high demand for specialized relay protection expertise.
Can relay technicians get green cards through employment?
Yes, relay technicians with engineering degrees can pursue EB-2 or EB-3 green cards. EB-2 requires advanced degrees or exceptional ability in electrical protection systems. Most qualify for EB-3 professional worker category. PERM labor certification may be challenging due to available U.S. workers with similar skills.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Relay Technician 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.
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