Summary

These positions are part of the WAPA-UGPR-Upper Great Plains Region within the Transmission System Planning, Engineering, Maintenance and Construction divisions. Please refer to the Additional Information section below for more information.

Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 10/09/2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty.

Duties

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As an Interdisciplinary Engineer (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical) at the full performance level, you will:

• Apply engineering knowledge and judgement in the selection, interpretation, and application of relevant rules, standard procedures, or precedents.
• Perform engineering studies to determine system requirements, modifications, repairs, or specifications.
• Coordinate projects with other engineers in other disciplines and communicate technical information accurately.
• Coordinate technical management activities to meet deadlines for projects; ensure quality assurance of assigned projects; utilize engineering principles in the development and execution of projects.
• Support Project Managers by providing and managing the scope, schedule, and budget for assigned tasks. Serve as the primary technical contact for team members, stakeholders, and customers to resolve issues and coordinate changes.
• Manage mechanical, electrical or civil engineering and related construction standards to be used by contracted engineering firms and agencies developing and executing projects. Look at drawings, material, samples and contracts to make improvements or changes to ensure compliance with costs and regulations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• 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/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
• Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications.
• In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
• The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
• Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays and weekends in support of related mission requirements.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

In order to be qualified for this position, you must meet the basic requirement AND minimum qualification requirements for the grade level(s) in which you apply.

Basic Requirement:

You must meet one of the following:

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. (You must submit licensure or registration.)
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. (You must submit documentation)
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.
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.)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience.

To qualify at the GS-09 Grade Level: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes:

• Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of engineering.
• At least one of the following:
  
  • Analyzing high voltage power systems.
  • Preparing design drawings or technical specifications.

OR

SUBSTITION OF EDUCATION: Two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related.

OR

A combination of education and specialized experience.

To qualify at the GS-11: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes:

• Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of engineering.
• At least two of the following:
  
  • Analyzing high voltage power systems.
  • Preparing operational planning or long-term planning studies and reporting on power system additions and modifications.
  • Preparing design drawings, technical specifications, or cost estimates.
  • Reviewing technical documents or contractor submittals for compliance with basic engineering requirements and project specifications.
  • Performing structural analysis and design, foundation design, or civil sitework.
  • Providing technical support by researching standards, criteria, or previous project documentation.

OR

SUBSTITION OF EDUCATION: Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related.

OR

A combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position.

To qualify at the GS-12: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This includes experience in at least TWO of the following:

• Preparing operational planning or long-term planning studies and reporting on power system additions and modifications.
• Developing, coordinating, and maintaining the network models utilized for steady state and transient analysis of power systems.
• Preparing engineering estimates, designs, drawings and specifications for civil type projects or electrical equipment.
• Preparing and reviewing technical documents or contractor submittals for compliance with basic engineering requirements and project specifications.
• Resolving technical issues related to substation or communication equipment.
• Analyzing structures and foundations.
• Serving as a professional resource for engineering aspects related to buildings, transmission lines, substations, communication systems, or geotechnical engineering.

"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.

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Education

Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 10/09/2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
• For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov.
• Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
• If selection is made at a lower grade, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
• The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a recruitment or relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.
• This position may be eligible for creditable service towards annual leave. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. DOE may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
• Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.
• Salary: The salary range indicated in this announcement will be adjusted to include locality payment for selected duty location. General Schedule locality pay tables may be found under Salaries & Wages.
  
  • These positions are under Special Rate Table 0755

As an Engineer in the Transmission System Planning division (Billings, MT; Watertown, SD; Bismarck, ND), you will be responsible for conducting professional studies for the planning and operation of WAPA-UGPR's transmission facilities within the Eastern and Western Interconnections acr