Job Description

Job Specification

Position:

Electrical Protection Engineer

Start Date:

1 November 2025

Location:

Linbro Park, Johannesburg (with extensive travel across Africa)

Contract Type:

Independent Contractor (IC) Starting at 12 Months

Contract Rate (Based on Experience):

ZAR 40,000 - ZAR 80,000 per month (Cost to Company as IC)

Company Overview

Our client is a leading electrical EPCM contractor specializing in the engineering and design of medium to high voltage substations, overhead lines, power factor correction, harmonic filtration, and emergency generation solutions. Operating primarily across Central and Northern Africa, they deliver projects of critical importance to the mining, industrial, and energy sectors.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking a

driven and detail-oriented Electrical Protection Engineer

with a self-motivated approach and strong problem-solving abilities. The successful candidate will design and implement robust protection systems, support project execution, and ensure system reliability across substations, transmission lines, and generation facilities. A "can-do" attitude, strong ethics, and a willingness to travel are essential for this role.

Qualifications & Skills

Education

B.Eng Electrical / N.Dip Electrical (Required)

Languages

English: First Language (Required) Afrikaans: Second Language (Optional) Additional languages: Advantageous

Experience

Minimum of 3-5 years industry experience


Proven problem-solving ability in addressing field issues and adapting designs to site-specific conditions

Key Responsibilities

1. Protection System Design & Engineering

Develop protection schemes for substations, overhead lines, PV plants, and diesel generation facilities Specify and select protective relays, breakers, and other protective devices Perform fault analysis, relay settings calculations, and arc flash analysis

2. System Studies & Coordination

Conduct protection coordination studies and power system modelling (ETAP/DIgSILENT) Analyze stability and transient behavior of systems to ensure correct protection responses

3. Project Engineering & Design Support

Prepare design documentation, single-line diagrams, schematics, and wiring diagrams Write technical specifications for protection and control equipment Ensure compliance with relevant standards and codes

4. Procurement & Vendor Management

Assist with procurement packages and technical evaluations Review vendor drawings and participate in FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing)

5. Construction & Commissioning Support

Supervise installation of protection and control systems Develop and execute commissioning plans, including relay and functional testing Troubleshoot system malfunctions and provide as-built documentation

6. Maintenance & Operations Support

Develop maintenance plans and failure analysis reports Provide training to operations and maintenance teams

7. Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Stay up to date on emerging protection technologies (digital relays, IEC 61850 systems) Contribute to R&D and workflow optimization

Technical Expertise

Substations: Design of protection schemes for HV and MV substations (busbar, transformer, feeder protection) Overhead Lines: Development of distance and differential protection schemes for transmission and distribution networks Diesel Generation: Protection for standby and prime diesel generators, including synchronisation and load-sharing philosophies Software: ETAP / DIgSILENT, AutoCAD, and relay configuration software Standards: Familiarity with IEC 61850, IEEE, ANSI, SANS, and local grid codes

Soft Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills Ability to coordinate with clients, vendors, and multidisciplinary teams Attention to detail with high standards of accuracy Open to constructive criticism and continuous learning Resilient, adaptable, and solution-focused

Additional Requirements

Must be able to work within a mining environment


Willingness to travel extensively (Mali, Morocco, Ghana, DRC, Zambia, etc.)


Valid passport required


Not easily offended, open-minded, and collaborative