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Power Systems Protection Engineer

Cushing Terrell

Missoula, MTFull-time$120–140K/yrSeen 1 day agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$120–140K/yr
Location
Missoula, MT
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Professional Engineer License Or ComityBachelor's degree

Job overview

Cushing Terrell seeks a Senior Protection & Studies Engineer to lead and grow its power system protection practice. The role combines hands-on engineering with technical leadership, including protection design, system studies, relay coordination, and design review. The engineer will guide other teams, mentor staff, help expand the practice, and collaborate across disciplines on projects and firm strategy.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Power System ProtectionSystem StudiesProtection Scheme DesignRelay CoordinationNational Electrical Safety CodeNational Electrical CodeElectrical Systems Analysis SoftwareETAPBluebeamOutlookMicrosoft OfficeElectrical System DesignElectrical SubstationsOverhead and Underground DistributionIndustrial InstallationsFee Proposal PreparationStudies and Reports PreparationConstruction Contract AdministrationConstruction ObservationShort-Circuit StudiesLoad-Flow StudiesGroundingLightning ProtectionRelay Vendor SoftwareNERC-PRC StandardsP&C Design CoordinationTechnical Decision-MakingClient Relationship Development

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering or Higher8+ Years Job-Related ExperienceProfessional Engineer License or Comity

Full job description

Compensation

$120,000.00 - $140,000.00 / yearly

Hours Per Week

40

Number Of Positions

1

Job Description

Position Title: Power Systems Protection Engineer

Description

Power System Protection Engineer

Position Description

Cushing Terrell is seeking a Senior Protection & Studies Engineer to lead and grow our firms capabilities in power system protection. As the go-to expert in this space, you will shape the future of our protection practice while delivering hands-on engineering excellence.

In this role, you will:

  • Lead the design, analysis, and implementation of protection schemes for substations, distribution systems, and industrial facilities

  • Perform system studies, develop protection schemes, coordinate relay settings, and review designs for accuracy and code compliance

  • Serve as the technical authority for other teams, providing guidance, mentorship, and support

  • Help expand and develop the firms protection capabilities, including building and mentoring a growing team

  • Collaborate across disciplines on sustainable, impactful projects, influencing both technical direction and firm strategy

This is a high-impact, hands-on role that offers professional growth, exposure to leadership, and the opportunity to build and lead a critical, high-demand specialty within the firm.

Position Salary Range*

The expected salary range for this position is $120,000 to $140,000 annually.

Required Qualifications**

  • Bachelors degree or higher education in Electrical Engineering

  • 8+ years of job-related experience

  • Working knowledge of the National Electrical Safety Code and the National Electrical Code

  • Licensed Professional Engineer (or ability to obtain by comity) in the state of the hiring Cushing Terrell office

  • Advanced knowledge of one or more Electrical Systems Analysis Software packages, ETAP preferred

  • Working knowledge of Bluebeam, Outlook, and Microsoft Office

  • Proven record of technical competence in areas of electrical system design including but not limited to electrical substations, overhead and underground distribution, and industrial installations, with applicable codes and regulations

  • Develop working knowledge of Cushing Terrells process and issues affecting productivity and quality control

  • Ability to prepare fee proposals, various studies and reports in relation to essential functions listed below

  • Work independently or under the direct supervision of a Senior Engineer or Project Manager

  • Ability to administer construction contracts and conduct on-site observation of work during construction to monitor plan compliance, including administration and review of addendums, substitutions, change orders, and submittals

Did you know that some people hold back on applying to jobs if they dont meet 100% of the listed requirements? We dont want you to hold back! If you check most of the qualifications above and believe you could successfully do the work, we encourage you to apply!

Position Responsibilities***

  • Perform various studies including short-circuit, load-flow, coordination, grounding, lightning protection, and others as required

  • Perform power system studies utilizing one or more power systems analysis software packages

  • Produce protective relay settings and setting files utilizing relay vendor software

  • Apply NERC-PRC standards to relay coordination and produce applicable compliance reports

  • Develop protection schemes for substations & industrial installations

  • Coordinate with other substation design disciplines (i.e., P&C design teams)

  • Maintain a working knowledge of processes and issues affecting productivity and quality of contract documents and reports

  • Act as Engineer-in-responsible-charge, including making technical decisions in their respective field, reviewing, stamping, and signing construction documents

  • Develop positive external and internal client relationships and participate in project interviews for firm-wide projects

  • Conduct project closeout and quality measurement investigation

Working at Cushing Terrell

Cushing Terrell is a multidisciplinary design firm with 17 offices and more than 500 team members who bring together their expertise to deliver holistic built environments. Leveraging our influence as designers, we work to create sustainable systems and spaces that help people live their best lives.

Why Cushing Terrell

At Cushing Terrell, we empower creative designers to discover imaginative, responsible, first-of-their-kind environments. But more than that, we support a strong, cohesive team, from our design professionals to our business operations staff. Together, we champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, placing people at the center of our practice, thus our tagline, design meets you. Together, we find joy in uncovering imaginative solutions for the people who work here, the people we work for, and the planet as a whole. We offer a competitive benefits package, work opportunities in a variety of locations and markets, and a company culture that celebrates all the unique viewpoints and personalities that make up our talented team. View our Employee Benefits Guide: https://cushingterrell.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CushingTerrell_BenefitsGuide_2026_rev.pdf

Things to Note

*Actual pay will be determined based on the candidates years of experience, licensure status, location, level of proficiency, and other job-related factors (as permitted by law). This position is also eligible for an annual performance bonus.

**Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Cushing Terrell will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

***The majority of the time, a person in this role will be sitting in an office with limited physical requirements. This may require individuals to bend, stretch, twist, and reach.

Cushing Terrell is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. Contact 406.248.7455 if you require assistance or accommodation during the employment application process.

Note to recruitment agencies: Cushing Terrell does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Cushing Terrell without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of Cushing Terrell.

Cushing Terrell

Apply Here: https://www.click2apply.net/8Vd7wqhDa4X5pcqjkfXpQJ

PI287484931

Is this a registered apprenticeship?

False

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

oBdSAfw0-CUtfYfwk

How this job compares

Set against the 10,295 open Electrical Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 28, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$120–140K/yr
  • Montana median$105–160K/yr39 salary ranges
  • US median$108–170K/yr6,590 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $130K, is close to the Montana median midpoint ($130K) — in the middle half of Electrical Engineer salary ranges in Montana.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 48 open Electrical Engineer jobs in Montana and 10,295 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Montana
Experience
This posting asks for at least 8 years of experience; Electrical Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for 5 years at the median (8,587 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 6,948 of the 10,295 open Electrical Engineer jobs (67%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 28, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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