The Relay Tech Manager is responsible for leading AHV’s field testing and commissioning activities for protection and control systems on utility substation projects. This role provides direct oversight of relay technicians and testing personnel, ensures safe execution in energized utility-class substations, and is accountable for planning, coordinating, and managing testing, commissioning, troubleshooting, documentation, and closeout activities across multiple projects.
This individual will serve as the field leader for protection and control testing operations, ensuring technical quality, schedule adherence, client coordination, and team performance while promoting a strong safety culture and high standard of execution. This role requires both strong hands-on relay testing expertise and the ability to supervise, mentor, and develop field personnel.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities of the Position
- Lead, supervise, and support relay technicians and testing personnel across multiple field projects.
- Plan, assign, and coordinate field testing and commissioning schedules to meet project milestones and client expectations.
- Review project drawings, protection schemes, SCADA requirements, and specifications to prepare teams for successful execution.
- Oversee development and execution of relay and protection system test plans using Doble ProTest or equivalent software/equipment.
- Manage functional testing of complex protection schemes, including coordination with project management, engineering, clients, and subcontractors.
- Provide leadership for commissioning and troubleshooting of substation SCADA systems, including SEL RTAC and similar platforms.
- Ensure overall quality and conformance to project specifications, company standards, and client requirements.
- Troubleshoot and drive resolution of design issues, wiring discrepancies, protection logic concerns, and field testing problems.
- Communicate field progress, risks, resource needs, and technical issues to Project Managers and company leadership.
- Track, review, and organize testing documentation for turnover and closeout packages.
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, mentoring, and performance development of relay technicians and field testing staff.
- Promote a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
- Support development of standard procedures, best practices, and testing processes to improve field execution consistency.
- Represent AHV professionally with clients, owners, vendors, subcontractors, and field partners.
The successful candidate will have the following Skills/Experience/Abilities
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams in energized utility-class substations.
- Strong leadership, supervisory, and mentoring ability.
- Extensive knowledge of utility transmission-grade relays and protection schemes.
- Strong experience planning and executing relay testing and commissioning activities.
- Experience testing SEL, GE, ABB, Basler, and other microprocessor-based relays.
- Understanding of protective relays and schemes including overcurrent, differential, line, voltage, and frequency protection applications.
- Experience performing and overseeing SCADA testing with SEL RTAC and similar vendor equipment.
- Ability to push issues to resolution and make sound field decisions in time-sensitive situations.
- Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
- Excellent ability to understand technical drawings, wiring diagrams, and project specifications.
- Strong computer skills in MS Office, Doble Protection Suite, RTS, SEL AcSELerator, Adobe, and related testing/documentation tools.
- Self-motivated with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities across projects.
- Ability to professionally represent the Company with clients, owners, vendors, and subcontractors.
Requirements
- Associate’s degree in Electrical Technology/Engineering required; Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent industry experience.
- 7+ years of protection and controls testing and commissioning experience in utility substations, with prior team leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
- Demonstrated experience leading field testing teams on high voltage substation projects.
- Travel: approximately 75% average annually.
- Clean driving record.
- Ability to work in challenging ambient conditions including outdoors, hot and cold temperatures, and loud environments.
- Must be able to lift and carry equipment and materials up to 60 lbs.
- Must be able to work in elevated positions.
- OSHA 10-hour minimum.
- NFPA 70E.
- FA/CPR training.
- NICET or NETA Level 2 or higher preferred; higher-level certification strongly preferred for management-level candidates.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience managing testing resources across multiple concurrent projects.
- Experience supporting project planning, manpower allocation, and field execution strategy.
- Experience reviewing closeout packages and maintaining documentation quality standards.
- Ability to develop junior technicians into lead-level field resources.
- Familiarity with EPC project execution and coordination with project management and engineering teams.