Electrical Project Engineer – Secondary Systems

Job description

The opportunity Hitachi Energy is seeking a Secondary Engineer to join our Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service team in Rotterdam, Netherlands. In this role, you will design and deliver secondary systems for high- and medium-voltage substations and grid connections—including protection, control, SCADA, and auxiliary systems—ensuring safe, reliable, and standards-compliant solutions from design through commissioning.

You will collaborate across disciplines and with customers, suppliers, and construction/commissioning teams to enable successful project execution supporting the energy transition. The preferred base is Rotterdam with hybrid working; limited travel to project and customer sites is expected. How you’ll make an impact Produce secondary engineering deliverables: SLDs, protection/control schematics, wiring diagrams, I/O lists, and panel layouts.

Specify and select equipment (protection relays, CTs/VTs, switchgear auxiliaries, PLC/RTU/SCADA) and define settings philosophies. Validate protection and control schemes, perform calculations, and prepare relay setting files and FAT/SAT procedures. Ensure compliance with IEC/EN standards, Dutch grid codes, and Hitachi Energy QHSE requirements; drive design quality and continuous improvement. Coordinate with civil, primary, and telecom engineers to ensure complete interfaces, proper cable routing, and constructability.

Support installation, testing, and commissioning

respond to site queries, review as-builts, and facilitate customer handover.

Manage suppliers and panel builders

review drawings, perform factory acceptance tests, and close technical actions.

Engage customers as a trusted technical partner

clarify requirements, present solutions, and capture lessons learned for future projects. Your background Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (power systems, protection and control) or related field. 4+ years’ experience in secondary engineering for substations or industrial power systems, from design to commissioning. Proficient with protection concepts and tools (e.g., differential, distance, overcurrent, IEC 61850, relay configuration, FAT/SAT).

Able to work independently within multidisciplinary teams; influence stakeholders using sound engineering practices and clear communication. Strong documentation rigor and quality mindset; hands-on problem solving at site and with suppliers. Fluency in English; Dutch is a strong asset. More about us We pride ourselves on offering a holistic range of competitive benefits to support your financial, physical and mental wellbeing and personal development.

We want you to truly thrive with us, in work and out. For this role in the Netherlands, depending on grade and experience, we offer the following employee benefits (subject to the respective plan rules): Pension plan 40 days PTO in the Netherlands with the possibility to buy or sell vacation days Flexible working: 3 days remote, 2 days office (hybrid)