Protection and Control Application Engineer

About IEM

Industrial Electric Mfg. (IEM) is the largest independent full-line manufacturer of custom power distribution systems in North America. Founded more than 75 years ago in Fremont, California, IEM grew alongside Silicon Valley and today operates over 1.7 million square feet of manufacturing capacity. With $1B+ in annual sales and 10,000+ commissioned projects across technology, data centers, commercial, energy, utilities, healthcare, industrial, and infrastructure markets, IEM continues to deliver exceptional product quality, dependable service, and the flexibility to meet complex technical requirements at scale.

Position Summary

The Protection and Control Application Engineer play a key role in designing and supporting advanced protection and automation systems for industrial and mission-critical applications. This position blends technical expertise with commercial strategy—supporting pre-sales efforts, defining protection and automation components, helping define system integration efforts and collaborating across teams to deliver scalable, standards-compliant solutions. The engineer also contributes to innovative and digital transformation initiatives that strengthen IEM's leadership in protection and automation within power distribution.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Sales & Technical Support

• Collaborate with Sales to provide subject matter expertise on protection, control, and automation systems during proposal and business development phases.
• Analyze project specifications and guide estimation/design teams in identifying required hardware, software, and engineering effort.
• Contribute to RFI/RFP responses, technical documentation, and solution presentations.

System Architecture & Design

• Design scalable, standards-compliant protection and control architectures for electrical distribution systems, including DER and microgrid applications.
• Ensure solutions meet performance, reliability, and operational requirements across industrial and mission-critical environments.

Technology & Product Integration

• Evaluate and select protection relays, PLCs, and control components based on technical and commercial criteria.
• Recommend design optimizations and alternative solutions to improve system performance and cost-effectiveness.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with sales engineers, electrical designers, and project managers to align solutions with customer needs and IEM's delivery capabilities.
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and field teams to refine and enhance system designs.

Thought Leadership & Enablement

• Represent IEM at industry forums, conferences, and customer engagements to promote technical leadership.
• Mentor junior engineers and support internal training programs to scale technical expertise across the organization.

Strategic Impact

• Influence product roadmaps and commercial strategies by advocating for advanced protection technologies and digital transformation.
• Support innovation initiatives and vendor partnerships to enhance IEM's competitive edge.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field (Master's preferred).
• Solid understanding of power system protection principles, relay logic, and automation systems (including PLC-based control).
• Experience with generator control, paralleling switchgear, and DER/microgrid control applications.
• Familiarity with industry communication protocols (e.g., DNP3, IEC 61850, Modbus).
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% for project support and commissioning.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience with protective relays and testing tools (e.g., SEL, GE, Omicron, Doble).
• Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., AutoCAD, ETAP, ASPEN).
• Experience working for/with OEMs and knowledge of UL, IEEE, and other relevant standards.
• Exposure to power equipment sales, commercial collaboration, and vendor engagement.
• Demonstrated leadership in innovation, solution development, or cross-functional initiatives.

Workplace Conditions

• On-site, hybrid, or remote
• Traveling up to 30%

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $130,000 -$165,000 per year, based on location, experience, and qualifications.

Why Join IEM

At IEM, you'll join a team that powers some of the world's most ambitious projects. We're engineers, makers, and problem-solvers who thrive on tackling complex challenges and delivering solutions that keep industries moving forward. If you're driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact, we'd love to hear from you. Your creativity and passion can help us achieve great things—come be part of the journey.

Learn more about IEM at

We offer comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support our employees' well-being, growth, and long-term success. View a snapshot of our benefits at

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