Filling a protection and controls bench for a data center EPC
An EPC firm won more high-voltage work than its team could design.
- 6
- engineers placed
- 4 mo.
- full team build
- 5
- substations staffed
The challenge
After winning substation packages for five data center campuses in Northern Virginia, the client's protection and controls group was badly understaffed. Protection engineers are among the scarcest specialists in power.
Detailed design on the first package was scheduled to start in under three months, and the client's previous attempts to hire through job postings had produced almost no qualified applicants.
Our approach
We targeted P&C engineers at utilities, relay manufacturers and testing firms, with a focus on Dominion standards experience.
We worked with the client to offer flexible hybrid schedules and a clear path to PE sponsorship — two things candidates told us mattered most.
We mapped protection engineers across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, prioritizing people with SEL relay and utility protection standards experience.
We kept every candidate updated weekly and moved from first interview to offer in under three weeks, which helped the client win candidates who had competing offers.
The outcome
Six protection and controls engineers were placed over four months.
Each of the five substation packages was fully staffed before detailed design began.
Every hire is still with the company.
The client's leadership now uses GridTal as its first call for high-voltage engineering roles.
Lessons for your search
Start early. The strongest substations & transmission candidates were not looking and needed time to consider a move.
Be specific about the mandate. Candidates responded to clear decision rights, executive access and real projects — not just compensation.
Move fast once finalists appear. Every hire in this search had other conversations underway.