Electrical Engineer

Summary

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration, in Power Test and Energization (TETC), Commissioning and Testing, (TET), Engineering and Technical Services (TE), Transmission (T), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position will serve as a an electrical engineer that independently performs a wide range of professional engineering studies and assignments within the subject-matter or functional area assigned.

Duties

As an Electrical Engineer, you will: Plan and carry out engineering studies, analyses, and calculations for the solution of problems associated with the overall planning, design, or operation of a high-voltage power generation and transmission system, applying a thorough knowledge of standard high-voltage power systems. Design, analyze, and review designs of high and low voltage electric power distribution and utilization systems. Perform design and engineering functions for older or well-established electric power distribution and utilization systems or electrical generating equipment when new requirements or changed requirements are imposed, such as greater efficiency or closer tolerances involving substantial modification of existing equipment. Evaluate data packages for devices or components for addition to or removal from an approved parts list when devices or components do not conform to the established design and testing specifications for such items. Conduct a variety of investigations and analyses relating to site selection and systems integration in connection with installation of systems to be installed at several facilities. Review project plans and specifications prior to contract advertisement to determine practicability from a construction standpoint.

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 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 using practical knowledge of electrical engineering concepts and methods to perform analysis on high voltage electrical equipment failures by following established procedures, conducting tests, and interpreting results to recommend effective corrective actions. 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: Experience in high voltage electrical engineering concepts and procedures to carry out studies and assignments associated with planning, design, operation, or maintenance of high voltage power transmission or other related systems. 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 in high voltage electrical engineering concepts and procedures to carry out detailed professional engineering in construction and assignments within the subject matter or functional area assigned, e.g., unusual problems that arise during the rework of major transmission systems. 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 phila