Job opening: Electrical Engineer
Salary: $115 079 - 153 442 per year
Published at: Jan 19 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in Customer Service Engineering (TPC) organization of Planning and Asset Management (TP), Transmission Services (T).
A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position will serve as a Customer Service Engineer (CSE) responsible for independently determining and executing the actions required to ensure satisfaction of utility and generation developer customers.
Duties
As an Electrical Engineer, you will:
Accomplishes BPA's long range planning by collaborating with utility customers to develop integrated plans of service that represent best value for both parties.
As a subject matter expert, works with interconnected utilities in developing cost effective, safe and reliable joint transmission system reinforcement plans to solve local problems. Serves as a consultant and expert advisor on the technical aspects of planning reports and expansion plans proposed by interconnected utilities and generation developers.
Represents BPA as the primary engineering point of contact for interconnection requests received from generation developers and both public and private utility customers.
Reviews plans, proposals, and requests from other utilities or organizations for possible impacts on the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) transmission system.
Determines electrical systems parameters, including transmission line and substation configurations, power circuit breaker requirements, and line termination and ratings.
Develops and coordinates the Project Requirements Diagram, obtains cost estimates, and develops business cases including alternatives review.
Drafts the technical descriptions and negotiates the division of responsibility between BPA and customer (work scope and funding) for short-term construction agreements to expand or modify the BPA transmission system.
Provides technical leadership in applying BPA's transmission tariffs and policies. Interprets policy and regulatory requirements in terms of established objectives and project specifics.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
- This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
- Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
- Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
- May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
- This position does not support remote work. You will be required to report physically to the official reporting worksite as specified by the supervisor, but no less than 3 days per pay period
- Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
- The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0753 (Kent, WA and Olympia, WA): https://apps.opm.gov/SpecialRates/
- The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0754 (Vancouver, WA): https://apps.opm.gov/SpecialRates/
- The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0755 (Pasco, WA, and Spokane, WA): https://apps.opm.gov/SpecialRates/
- After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.
- A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
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 the meeting the basic requirement, a qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
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-12] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experienced in applying electrical and other related engineering disciplines (i.e., civil and mechanical) theories, principles, concepts, standards, and methods 1) in developing plans or services to utility and other industry-related customers, 2) determining and resolving problems, conditions, or issues for the management of the organization system modifications and expansion, and 3) recommend innovation in advancing utility projects to achieve the organization's business objectives.
There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-13 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 experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Physical Demands: The work is sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required in stooping, kneeling, bending, etc.
Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office. The position requires 1 to 5 overnight travel trips per month.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
Education
This vacancy has a positive education requirement. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the
Department of Education website.DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.
In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts.
Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".
Contacts
- Address Bonneville Power Administration
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208
US
- Name: Jose Deguzman
- Phone: 503-230-3230
- Email: [email protected]