Electrical Engineer

Summary

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration, in Transmission Services, Transmission Planning (TPP), Reliability Planning/Service Planning/Infrastructure Development Planning/CapabilitiesPlanning (TPP/A/B/C/D). A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position will perform a wide range of professional engineering studies and assignments related to high-voltage transmission networks.

Duties

As an Electrical Engineer, you will: Perform a variety of activities involved in Planning BPA's transmission system, including meeting reliability requirements for load interconnection, generator interconnection, and transmission system analysis. Plans and coordinates studies for extensive modifications of major segments or component equipment of high-voltage transmission networks to find means of improving performance, increasing capacity, and correcting unsatisfactory conditions. Plans, organizes, and conducts special studies. Performs preliminary engineering analyses. Thoroughly evaluates the various alternatives for meeting the objectives of the assignment. Develop or adapt approaches and procedures which are followed by less experienced engineers on subsequent assignments of a similar nature.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional Registration or Licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. -OR- Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. -OR- Specified Academic Courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. -OR- Related Curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) For more information on how to meet the Basic Requirements please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also meet the specialized experience requirements as listed below. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: GS-9: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-7 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) assisting professional engineers with basic engineering tasks, math calculations, or reviews for planning, designing, running, or fixing electrical systems and equipment and 2) using standard engineering rules to gather data, review technical specs, and write basic engineering reports, charts, or notes. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree, or master's, or equivalent graduate degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first year of full-time study may be credited). GS-11: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as 1) independently performing standard engineering studies, analyses, or power system simulations for power systems (generation, transmission, distribution, or utilization) of limited scope and complexity using established methods and 2) reviewing technical data, equipment specs, and field test results to ensure they meet utility or industry rules; creating working drawings or detailed specs. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-12: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-11 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) planning and executing complex electrical studies and designs for high-voltage power lines, substations, or power plants, and modifying existing methods to resolve issues and 2) using complex power system simulation models (such as power flow, dynamic stability, EMT or fault duty) to identify and resolve transmission or grid performance issues. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade level. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and