The posting
Job Description
TRAVEL & WORK LOCATION
- This position requires approximately 25% of travel to the surrounding areas Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia.
- The role is based out of Forest Park, GA.
- Relocation assistance may be provided for candidates not currently living within a reasonable commute distance.
JOB SUMMARY
The Substation Control Standards Engineer is a high-impact role focused on advancing Southern Company’s protection and control standards through innovative relay systems, control schemes, and design practices. This position offers broad exposure across all three Operating Companies, key business units, and industry-leading vendors while supporting enterprise-wide standardization and emerging technology initiatives.
In this role, the engineer will help develop and maintain SOCO standards, update standard drawings and design guidance, participate in cross-functional working groups, and serve as a trusted technical resource for engineering and design teams across the system. The position also provides meaningful opportunities to grow as a Subject Matter Expert or Lead Product Engineer, build strong relationships across the company and utility industry, and help shape the future of protection and control engineering at Southern Company.
Overall, this is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence who wants to make a lasting impact while gaining significant visibility and professional growth.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- Promote and model a strong Safety First culture in all work activities.
- Support the development, maintenance, and implementation of Southern Company Substation Control Standards.
- Develop and maintain protective relay applications, control schemes, standard drawings, and engineering documentation.
- Participate in standards committees and working groups to improve processes, evaluate new technologies, and drive standardization.
- Manage and prioritize standards maintenance requests and enhancements through JIRA.
- Provide technical guidance on protection and control standards, procedures, and design practices.
- Support communication, interpretation, and implementation of new or revised SOCO standards across the system.
- Collaborate with OPCOs, engineering, construction, field services, project management, vendors, and other stakeholders.
- Serve as a technical resource, SME, or Lead Product Engineer for assigned standards, products, or initiatives.
- Build strong relationships across Southern Company and with external partners to support standards alignment and continuous improvement.
- Manage multiple priorities and projects while maintaining quality, responsiveness, and accountability.
- Support storm restoration and emergency response efforts as needed.
JOB QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or relevant technical discipline with a minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience.
- 5 or more years’ relevant experience preferred.
- P.E. License is a plus.
Experience:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications is required.
- Experience in Transmission and/or Distribution Substation Operations within an electric utility environment is preferred.
- Strong understanding of substation protection and control scheme operation preferred.
- Ability to create Substation Control Design drawings from a single-line diagram is preferred.
- Experience using the Autodesk Suite, including AutoCAD Electrical, is preferred.
- Experience with substation protective relay testing, control scheme testing, and commissioning is a plus.
- Experience in the field of Substation Engineering, Field Services, Switchboard Wiring, Power Delivery, Substation Maintenance, PCA, SIA or Substation Construction is a plus.
- Experience working with document management and estimating systems such as SCST Vault, TEAMS, STOMP, MAXIMO, SharePoint Site development, and AI Tools are a plus.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Ability to be a multitask, be a self-starter, and work independently with minimal supervision is required.
- Excellent communication skills (oral & written) and the ability to communicate technical issues simply is required.
- Ability to work well in a team environment and develop relationships at all levels is required.
- Effective time management and organizational skills to manage multiple projects with various priorities and competing deadlines is required.
- “Customer focus” with a willingness to meet the needs of our customers and solicit feedback is required.
- Knowledge of basic electrical power system theory is preferred.
- A good understanding of utility electric grid operations is preferred.
- Strong problem-solving skills are preferred.
BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES
- Model Our Values: Safety First, Intentional Inclusion, Act with Integrity, and Superior Performance is required.
- Demonstrated commitment to providing balanced consideration of all three Operating Companies (APC, GPC, MPC) perspectives when developing SOCO Standards solutions is required.
- Embrace Principal Centered Leadership Training is required.
- Conduct all activities with a focus on providing value for our customers’ needs.
- Take personal responsibility for projects and customer issues.
- Follow through on all aspects of assignments to ensure a quality product and increased value is delivered to our customers.
- Exhibit and promote a positive, "can do" attitude.
- Commitment as a team member to building and maintaining an Inclusive work environment.
- Strong emphasis on Operational Excellence.
- Understand and practice Human Performance Concepts.
For an overview of our benefits and employee perks, we encourage you to review this link.
About Us
About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf. Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.
Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
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