Senior Protection & Control (P&C) Engineer

About Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. is seeking a Senior Protection & Control (P&C) Engineer to join its Energy & Power team. The team focuses on providing comprehensive solutions across energy networks, thermal generation, renewable generation, and storage. Jacobs is actively involved in the global energy transition, supporting clients in addressing challenges related to replacing conventional thermal power plants with renewable generation solutions.

Role Overview

This full-time position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and supports projects across all SA Regions. The Senior Protection & Control Engineer will contribute to a range of high-profile projects within the Power & Energy portfolio, including high voltage AIS and GIS Substations, transmission system assets, HVDC interconnectors, and energy storage systems. The role requires over 12 years of relevant experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and detailed design workstreams for Protection & Control systems in transmission and renewable energy projects.
• Develop and review interface designs, protection schemes, and control philosophies.
• Ensure quality assurance and timely delivery of design packages and technical bids.
• Conduct site visits and non-intrusive surveys for design or site support activities.
• Coordinate with back-office engineers, sub-contractors, and suppliers.
• Support tendering activities and contribute to technical offers.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team capability development.
• Maintain client relationships and support business development.
• Design and review IEC 61850 Substation Automation Systems, including process bus, station bus, GOOSE messaging, Sampled Values (SV), HMI, gateways, and SCADA integration.
• Specify instrument transformers and assess transient performance.
• Apply protection and settings for 110 to 380 kV overhead lines, cables, transformers, busbars, and reactive plant.
• Work with numerical relay platforms such as Siemens SIPROTEC, Hitachi Energy/ABB RE_ series, GE, SEL, Schneider MiCOM, and NR Electric, including their configuration software.
• Perform relay coordination studies using software like ETAP, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PSS/E, CAPE, or ASPEN for coordination and relay modelling.
• Prepare, review, and approve protection relay settings, coordination studies, fault level assessments, and protection philosophies.
• Support factory acceptance testing (FAT), site acceptance testing (SAT), energization activities, and commissioning of protection and control systems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in electrical or power engineering from an accredited institution. A master's degree is an advantage.
• Saudi Council of Engineers registration is required or obtainable; chartered or professional engineer status is desirable.
• Experience working to standards of SEC, National Grid SA, Saudi Aramco, GCC Interconnection Authority, DEWA, TRANSCO, OETC, or other Middle East utility standards is highly desirable.
• A minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in protection and control engineering.

Work Environment

This role is a full-time position within the Middle East, UK, and Continental Europe team, which is currently expanding. The successful candidate will work on projects across various regions in Saudi Arabia, with the primary location being Riyadh.