Daily rate: 250
A global engineering group specialising in command, control, and protection systems for energy infrastructure is looking for an experienced Systems Engineer to join their operations team in Porto.
The team delivers end-to-end projects across the full electricity chain: transmission and distribution substations, hydroelectric plants, solar and photovoltaic farms, wind parks, railway and metro traction substations, and national grid operator infrastructure. Projects span Portugal and international markets across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.
This is strictly an operational engineering role. The team designs system architectures, configures all equipment, carries out factory and site acceptance testing, and commissions systems at client sites. Each engineer owns their projects from requirements analysis through to final handover.
Profiles from software development, firmware, R&D, power systems analysis, or grid integration will not be considered.
- This is a full-time position, On-site (approx. 70% office/workshop, 30% field)
Goals and Deliverables
Define technical architecture and system specifications for substation automation, protection, and control systems across energy infrastructure projects
Analyse client technical specifications and translate requirements into complete system designs
Select and specify equipment and technologies: protection relays, IEDs, RTUs, control units, SCADA platforms, communication switches, GPS clocks, and ancillary equipment
Configure all system components from scratch using proprietary engineering tools, including IEDs, RTUs, control units, and SCADA databases
Produce and validate signal lists and system databases for complete C&C and protection systems
Execute Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) at the company workshop in Maia, including relay injection testing using OMICRON equipment
Carry out Site Acceptance Tests (SAT) and commissioning at client sites across Portugal and internationally
Interpret disturbance records and fault data, and analyse whether protection systems operated correctly
Produce technical documentation including operation, maintenance, and training plans
Support the Project Manager on planning, client coordination, and technical clarifications
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to internal knowledge sharing
Participate in technical forums and innovation committees
Experience Required
Minimum 4 years of hands-on operational experience in systems engineering for energy infrastructure: substation automation, protection systems, command and control, or power systems commissioning
Proven experience on the operational side of the discipline: designing architectures, configuring systems from scratch, and delivering FAT/SAT commissioning. Candidates whose experience is on the software development, firmware, R&D, or analytical side of energy systems will not be considered.
Hands-on experience configuring IEDs and/or protection relays (EFACEC, Siemens SIPROTEC, ABB, GE, Hitachi, SEL, Schneider, or equivalent)
Hands-on experience with RTU or BCU configuration and integration
Experience executing FAT and SAT for protection and C&C systems in energy infrastructure
Practical knowledge of SCADA system configuration and integration in substation or generation environments
Experience with communication protocol configuration at operational level: IEC 61850, IEC 60870-5-101/104, DNP3, Modbus, or equivalent
Driving licence (required for field work)
Availability for occasional international travel (short commissioning trips, maximum 1 to 1.5 months)
Client is open to junior profiles - but the rate must reflect the skills
Education
Contact: Costa Neto
