Relay Technician

This onsite Relay Technician position based out of the Amarillo office focuses on substation protection and controls testing in both greenfield and brownfield substations at various stages of energization. You will work hands-on with protection schemes, control wiring, and relay testing, supporting reliable operation of utility substations across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico. This role offers a strong technical career path and can serve as a gateway to higher-level positions such as Commissioning Engineer, Project Manager, Field Service Manager, Operations Manager, or pre-commissioning and commissioning roles.

Responsibilities

• Perform substation relay testing and commissioning activities in greenfield and brownfield substations at various stages of energization.
• Implement and verify substation protection and control schemes, ensuring proper operation of relays and associated equipment.
• Interpret and work from control schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts to complete and verify control wiring.
• Carry out point-to-point wiring checks to confirm correct terminations and functional integrity of protection and control circuits.
• Conduct live current transformer (CT) work in accordance with established safety and technical procedures.
• Test, ring out, and verify control and protection cables to ensure correct installation and performance.
• Upload relay settings into protection relays and verify that settings are correctly applied and functioning as intended.
• Utilize relay test equipment, including Omicron test sets and associated software such as Test Universe, to perform functional and performance testing of protection relays.
• Work with both modern digital relays and legacy electromechanical relays, performing testing, troubleshooting, and adjustments as needed.
• Apply three-phase power system knowledge to understand and validate system behavior, fault responses, and relay operations.
• Collaborate with engineering and field teams involved in relay settings development, substation design, and commissioning activities.
• Travel to various job sites within the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico for short assignments, typically up to two weeks, with occasional longer assignments given advanced notice.
• Document test results, configurations, and field observations clearly and accurately for project records and future reference.
• Support pre-commissioning and commissioning efforts by verifying that protection and control systems are ready for energization.
• Maintain tools, test equipment, and work areas in a safe, organized, and professional manner while adhering to all site safety requirements.

• Minimum of 5 years of field experience in substation protection and controls testing.
• Strong hands-on experience as a substation relay technician working in energized and non-energized substation environments.
• Deep familiarity with substation protection and controls and their practical implementation in the field.
• Ability to read, interpret, and work from control schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel wiring drawings.
• Proficiency with control wiring, low-voltage wiring, and point-to-point wiring verification.
• Solid understanding of three-phase power systems and their application in protection and control schemes.
• Experience performing live CT work following appropriate procedures and safety practices.
• Ability to test and ring out control and protection cables to verify continuity and correctness.
• Capability to upload relay settings to protection relays and verify proper operation.
• Familiarity with protection and control concepts used in substations, including utility distribution and substation design.
• Willingness and ability to travel for short periods, typically not exceeding two weeks at a time, with flexibility for occasional longer trips with prior notice.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and attention to detail when working with both digital and electromechanical relays.
• Ability to work independently in the field while communicating effectively with project and engineering teams.

• Experience developing relay settings is highly relevant and may translate well to this role.
• Background in substation design and commissioning is beneficial and can support growth into commissioning-focused roles.
• Knowledge of remote terminal units (RTUs) is a plus.
• Familiarity with Omicron test sets and software such as Test Universe is a strong advantage.
• Experience with electromechanical relays is a plus.
• Education in electrical engineering or an associated degree is preferred but not required.
• Experience with utility distribution, substation design, and protection and control engineering is advantageous.
• Candidates residing in the Texas or Oklahoma panhandle or southeastern New Mexico are preferred, though relocation support or living outside the service area may be considered for highly qualified candidates.
• A sign-on bonus may be considered for exceptionally well-qualified candidates.
• Motivation to progress into higher-paying and more technical positions such as Commissioning Engineer, Project Manager, Field Service Manager, Operations Manager, pre-commissioning agent, or commissioning agent.

This is an onsite role based out of the Amarillo office, with frequent work at substations across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandle and southeastern New Mexico. You will work primarily in field environments that include both greenfield and brownfield substations in various stages of construction and energization. The position involves hands-on work with substation equipment, protection relays, control panels, and associated wiring, using specialized test equipment such as Omicron test sets and related software tools. Travel to regional job sites is a regular part of the role, typically for assignments of up to two weeks, with occasional longer stays provided with advanced notice. The work setting emphasizes safety, technical precision, and collaboration with engineering and field teams, and the role offers a clear pathway to more advanced technical and leadership positions.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Amarillo, TX.

The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $50.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Amarillo,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on May 29, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

Salary : $25 - $50