Electrical Engineer

This position is located with in Engineering Support (TEES), Substation Engineering (TEE), Transmission Engineering & Technical Services (TE), Transmission Services (TE), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position will serve as a lead technical authority in Substation Engineering with full technical authority and responsibility for coordinating all aspects and activities related to the development of substations indoor/outdoor equipment. As a Electrical Engineer, you will: Coordinate and lead technology selection and requirements for assigned projects to ensure conformance to all institutional regulations including, but not limited to, functional operation, safe work practices, maintainability, and are compatible with surrounding environment. Assures multidiscipline designs for large substations and associated transmission Resolve unique or novel problems, conditions, or issues for primarily new applications, or professional and/or technological developments. Practice professional engineering judgement and creative approaches to effect significant alteration of standard practices, equipment, devices, and processes, coordination with technical experts from other teams including System Operations, Planning, Engineering Design, and Maintenance Engineering. Be Responsible for the coordination of necessary activities to establish the most effective application of substation protective relays, protective relaying communications, control systems, related substation indoor/outdoor equipment, considering performance, cost, environmental impacts, and problems related to public and/or political issues. Lead the development of technical requirements, contract specifications, and installation and operation standards for the unique equipment and controls used for substation protection and control equipment. Also participates in nationally recognized organizations engaged in further developing this technology for industry wide applications, such as, EPRI and IEEE. Report on new relaying equipment designs tailored to specific communication requirements. Included are matters necessary to the function of such systems employed in the generation, transmission, distribution, substation, and utilization of electrical energy, and their effects on system operation. 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: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [12] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience in applying advanced electrical engineering theories, concepts, and principles sufficient to use in the development, evaluation, selection and enhancement for protective relays, protective relaying communications, control systems, and related substation indoor/outdoor equipment OR) 2. Experience in applying advanced electrical engineering theories, concepts, and principles with medium voltage/station service and/or 500KV/230KV/115KV transformer specifications. "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. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully. Key Requirements: You must be a United States Citizen. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements. You will be required to report in person to the official duty location. Conditions of Employment: 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. This position requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment. 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.. 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".