Protection & Controls Engineer - Memphis

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today, SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary and expanding consciousness to the stars.

SpaceXSI is building Super Intelligence to help humanity understand the universe. Our teams are building the full Super Intelligence stack: from our Colossus supercomputers, to Grok models, to our suite of applications, including Grok Bot, Grok Build, Grok Imagine, Grok Voice, and X. We're creating a powerful flywheel where more compute trains better models, better models power more useful products, and what we learn from people using those products shapes what we build next.

PROTECTION & CONTROLS ENGINEER

Join the High Power Engineering team to design, set, commission, and maintain protection and control systems for large electrical infrastructure. As a Protection & Controls Engineer, you will own schemes and settings from the transmission interconnection through distribution, on-site generation, and battery energy storage, down to medium- and low-voltage buses serving data halls and other mission-critical loads. The position is based in Memphis, TN, with potential travel to other sites.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Develop protection philosophy, one-line and three-line diagrams, DC control schematics, wiring diagrams, and relay panel layouts for the electrical system from the utility interconnection to facility buses

Calculate, implement, and maintain protective relay settings and logic for transmission lines, buses, power transformers, distribution feeders, generators, and battery energy storage / inverter-based resources

Specify relays, current and voltage transformers, trip circuits, lockout schemes, breaker-failure protection, and communications-assisted schemes (permissive, blocking, transfer trip)

Perform short-circuit, protective-device coordination, and arc-flash studies; keep settings aligned with the study of record as the system changes

Commission protection systems: functional checks, primary and secondary injection, end-to-end scheme tests, and in-service timing checks by using industry test sets (e.g. Doble, Omicron)

Collect and analyze fault and disturbance records (COMTRADE and equivalent); recommend setting or scheme changes after events, misoperations, or staged tests

Maintain the settings management database, as-left files, and firmware/config control for in-service relays

Integrate protection with SCADA, RTUs, and plant/facility monitoring: DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850 (including GOOSE), and IEEE C37.118 synchrophasors as applicable

Support NERC PRC evidence and testing where the interconnection or generation/storage fleet requires it (e.g. PRC-005, PRC-019, PRC-024, PRC-027)

Work with field technicians, operators, and contractors during outages, switching, and troubleshooting. Stay hands-on at the panel

Apply IEEE C37 (including line, transformer, bus, and generator protection), NESC, NFPA 70 / 70E, IEEE 1547, and IEEE 2800 as they apply to the assets in scope

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another engineering discipline

3+ years of protection and controls experience (settings, design, or commissioning) on medium or high-voltage systems

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

5+ years in a protection and controls role at a utility, independent power producer, EPC, relay manufacturer (e.g. SEL), or hyperscale / colocation data center operator

Hands-on experience with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) relays and software (AcSELerator QuickSet, synchroWAVe Event, or equivalent). GE, ABB, Siemens, or Beckwith experience also valued

SELogic or equivalent relay logic; settings templates; a formal settings management process

Short-circuit and coordination studies in ETAP, ASPEN OneLiner, CAPE, SKM, or EasyPower

Transmission and distribution protection (line, bus, transformer, feeder) plus at least one of: generator protection, BESS/inverter-based resource protection, or mission-critical facility / data hall medium-voltage protection

Commissioning with Doble F6150, Omicron CMC, or equivalent; event-record analysis after faults

Familiarity with DNP3, Modbus, IEC 61850, IEEE C37.118, IEEE C37.111, and IEEE C37.232

Working knowledge of IEEE C37.102 (generator), C37.91 (transformer), C37.234 (bus), IEEE 1547 / 2800 (interconnection and inverter-based resources), and applicable NERC PRC standards

Professional Engineering license, or actively working toward one

Ability to support technicians in the field and to remain effective during outages and event investigations

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Perform hands-on work in all environments (heat, cold, rain), in tight quarters or at heights

Work extended hours and weekends as needed to support construction, energization, and operations

Remain focused in hazardous environments while wearing appropriate PPE

Lift up to 25 lbs unassisted

Provide 24/7 on-call support for emergencies

Willing to work on-site in Memphis, TN – this is not a remote or hybrid role

Travel up to 25% for factory witness testing, vendor and OEM engagement, and supporting other sites

Valid driver's license

SpaceXSI is an equal opportunity employer. For details on data processing, view our Recruitment Privacy Notice .