Senior Lead Electrical Engineer

Location: Houston, Texas, United States of America

Category: Engineering

Employment Type: Full Time

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

Electrical Engineering Manager

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ABB is seeking a Senior Lead Electrical Engineer to serve as the technical authority for Protection & Controls and Power System Studies within our Automation Energy Industries division in Houston, TX. In this role, you will lead the technical direction of complex projects, define protection philosophies, drive engineering standards, mentor a growing team of engineers, and develop a well-rounded understanding of modern power infrastructure up to 69kV.

Our group delivers substation design, protection and controls engineering, power system studies, and power management systems across medium and high voltage infrastructure. This is an opportunity to shape how we approach critical power system challenges, collaborate across disciplines, and leave a lasting impact on modern energy infrastructure

The work model for the role is: Hybrid (#LI-Hybrid)

This role contributes to the Automation Energy Industries division in Houston, TX.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as subject matter expert by leading Protection & Controls engineering across multiple projects — including the definition of protection philosophies, relay selection, settings development, configuration, coordination, and review of single line diagrams — while providing technical oversight and standards to the engineering team.

• Perform and review power system studies ranging from standard analyses (short circuit, load flow, protective device coordination, arc flash) to advanced studies (dynamic stability, harmonics, transient analysis, grounding, motor starting, frequency response, voltage stability, and generator synchronization).

• Investigate and analyze power system disturbances, equipment failures, and protective relay operations at customer facilities.

• Review engineering deliverables to ensure technical accuracy, consistency, and compliance with industry standards, project specifications, and internal engineering practices.

• Mentor team members on protection and control best practices, building technical capability within the group.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to support project execution and technical decision-making.

• Support substation and electrical building integration design packages from conceptual stage through construction completion (scope varies based on experience).

• Support the design and implementation of power management systems (PMS) (scope varies based on experience).

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Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited university and Professional Engineer (PE) license.

• 15+ years of experience in power systems engineering, with significant depth in Protection & Controls for medium and high voltage systems.

• Expert-level knowledge of protection principles, relay coordination, protection scheme design, and proven ability to independently perform relay configuration and settings development (e.g., SEL, GE, Siemens, ABB, or similar platforms).

• Ability to lead and execute power system studies independently — from standard analyses (SC, LF, PC, AF) through advanced studies (dynamic stability, harmonics, transient analysis, grounding, motor starting, and voltage stability).

• Expert-level proficiency with at least one major power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, SKM PowerTools, EasyPower, PSCAD, or similar).

• Strong understanding of relevant industry standards and codes (IEEE, NFPA, NEC, ANSI, IEC, or equivalent).

• Familiarity with substation design, electrical building integration, and/or power management systems (PMS/SCADA) is considered an asset.

• Excellent technical problem-solving, communication, documentation skills, and ability to mentor junior engineers.
   

We empower you to take the lead, share bold ideas, and shape real outcomes. You’ll grow through hands-on experience, mentorship, and learning that fits your goals. Here, your work doesn’t just matter, it moves things forward

What's in it for you

We want you to bring your full self to work—your ideas, your energy, your ambition. You’ll have the tools and freedom to grow your skills, shape your path, and take on challenges that matter. Here, your work creates impact you can see and feel, every day.

More About Us

ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.

For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.

Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.

MyBenefitsABB.com

ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees

[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]

Go to myBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more

Health, Life & Disability

• Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan. 
• Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
• Vision benefit
• Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
• Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
• Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
• Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
• Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
• Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
• Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
• Employee discount program

Retirement

• 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions 
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

Time off

ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Vacation is provided based on years of service for hourly and non-exempt positions. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.

Contribute to a collective vision. This is where progress takes flight, teams turn ideas into impact, and we define what’s next. Run What Runs the World.

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Ready to make an impact?

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