System Test Specialist - IEC 61850

Job Description Summary
The System Testing Engineer is a specialist-level individual contributor responsible for executing and driving advanced system testing activities for substation automation and protection systems. This role centers on IEC 61850 (Edition 2.1), top-down engineering, and multi-vendor relay interoperability, with a modern mandate to integrate AI-agentic workflows into the testing lifecycle.

Job Description

Core Focus: Test Strategy & Execution

• Test Case Design: Architect comprehensive, high-coverage test suites for complex protection and control logic.
• Automation Scripting: Develop and maintain robust automation scripts to enhance test cycle speed and consistency.
• Defect Tracking: Perform rigorous defect lifecycle management, from identification and root cause analysis to final validation.

AI-Driven Testing Workflow & Skills

• Requirements to Tests: Generate accurate test cases and automation scripts directly from technical requirements using AI-powered tools.
• Validation: Review and validate AI-generated automation scripts for accuracy, maintainability, and standard compliance.
• Defect Intelligence: Utilize AI-driven tools for automated defect triage, trend analysis, and comprehensive summarization of complex system issues.
• Exploratory Testing: Apply advanced prompt engineering techniques to conduct AI-guided exploratory testing to uncover edge-case defects.

Technical Responsibilities

• Troubleshooting: Serve as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for IEC 61850 inquiries. Perform deep-dive analysis of communication logs (GOOSE, MMS, SV) and relay event records to resolve multi-vendor integration challenges.
• Technical Collaboration: Review communication matrices and SCL configurations to identify design gaps early.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed, audit-ready test evidence and documentation for project certification and delivery.

Required Skills and Experience

• Domain Expertise: 3 to 6 years deep hands-on experience with IEC 61850 (Edition 2 & 2.1) and substation automation/protection systems.
• Integration Skills: Proven experience in testing and troubleshooting systems with multi-vendor IEDs/Relays.
• Automation & Scripting: Proficiency in scripting (Python, Shell, or similar) and experience with test automation frameworks.
• AI Competency: Demonstrated ability to apply AI based tools for test design, script generation, and defect analysis. Strong command of prompt engineering to drive technical workflows.
• Analytical Ability: Exceptional skill in log analysis, protocol trace interpretation, and root-cause identification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in power systems, protection and control, or digital substation engineering.
• Experience with SCL engineering and IEC 61850 system configuration tools.
• Experience managing complex test environments and high-volume defect tracking in a specialist capacity.

Additional Information

Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes