Summary

This position is within the Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) Information Technology, Grid Ops Application Services, System Development and Support team. As a lead Electrical Engineer, you will manage critical projects for the computer systems that control our power grid. We need your expertise to design and integrate innovative solutions that ensure the reliability and security of the Pacific Northwest's energy infrastructure, directly impacting the region's power supply.

Duties

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Power the Future of the Pacific Northwest

At Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission is to provide an adequate, efficient, and reliable power supply to the Pacific Northwest. We are seeking a visionary Electrical Engineer to lead the evolution of the critical computer systems that control our regional power grid. In this role, you will be at the forefront of designing, developing, and integrating the complex systems that ensure the lights stay on for millions. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise to safeguard and advance our region's energy future, making a tangible impact on our communities and the environment.

As a technical leader and project manager, you will be empowered to:

• Lead Critical Infrastructure Projects: Serve as the project manager and technical lead for the design, development, and integration of the large-scale, real-time computer systems that form the backbone of our grid operations.
• Pioneer Innovative Solutions: Apply cutting-edge theories and new technological developments to solve unique and novel challenges, significantly advancing our standard practices and grid control techniques.
• Shape Future Technology: Evaluate the latest developments in the computing and power utility industries, recommending and incorporating new technologies to ensure BPA remains a leader in cost-effective and reliable power delivery.
• Architect Complex Systems: In collaboration with a skilled team, develop detailed technical specifications and functional requirements for control center computer systems, including key aspects like scheduling, backup, and recovery.
• Drive Strategic Planning: Represent your team in long-range planning for our real-time control center systems, making key recommendations for projects that meet BPA's current and future operational needs.
• Serve as a Technical Authority: Act as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative, writing and reviewing work orders, monitoring contractor performance, and evaluating products to ensure our high standards are met.
• Analyze and Mitigate System Impacts: Critically review and analyze proposed changes for their impact on project schedules, costs, and functionality, as well as their potential effect on the stability of the broader Bulk Electric System.
• Collaborate Across the Industry: Serve as a key technical liaison between BPA and a wide range of external partners, including technology vendors, other utilities, government agencies, and research institutions, to facilitate technical exchange and coordinate project objectives.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

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:

• 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.
• May be required to serve as Contracting Officers Representative for BPA grants and agreements; this duty includes additional training and certification.
• This position has been designated as requiring a PUBLIC TRUST background. 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:

1. 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-

2. 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-

3. 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-

4. 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.)

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: 1) Performing technical analysis of and leading projects involving the design, development, or modification of real-time electrical power control systems; AND 2) Experience designing, writing, testing, debugging, and documenting application or scripting code (e.g., C/C++, Python, C#, Java, or structured text, .net and blazer) specifically for real-time operations, control systems, or industrial hardware integration AND 3) Developing technical software/system specifications, evaluating vendor proposals or system performance against requirements, and coordinating with other technical disciplines to resolve complex engineering and cybersecurity compliance challenges (e.g., NERC CIP or NIST guidelines).

"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.

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".

Additional information

• The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0754: https://apps.opm.gov/SpecialRates/
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE

Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment.

We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.