This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in SPC Celilo (TFDI), The Dalles District (TFD), Transmission Field Services (TF).
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.
External Application Link(s): HOW TO APPLY
Electrical Engineer, GS-0850-11/12, - several vacancies available
Open & Close date: Open: 09/08/2023 Close: 09/17/2023
LOCATION(s)The Dalles, OR
SALARY: See announcement for salary
A successful candidate in this position will serve as an Electrical Engineer in System Protection for system integration, modification, redesign, troubleshooting, installation, operation and maintenance, and failure analysis for all System Protection and Control (SPC) systems and equipment in the District.
As an Electrical Engineer GS11/12, you will:
Work with manufacturers, BPA and other contractor resources for design, test, and integration of new and/or experimental equipment that extends the technology of the industry.
Investigate and resolve problems and conditions in electrical SPC systems and equipment impacting costs, efficiency, safety, and performance.
Conduct detailed, comprehensive engineering studies to determine cause of equipment failures.
Conduct test and energization of new SPC systems and equipment in the District. Determines the compatibility of the new equipment with the existing, and devises an integration plan which protects the continuity of the power system.
Examine scheme design for conformance with accepted practice in the specialized field.
Investigate equipment malfunction and takes or recommends corrective action, depending on the nature of the problem and equipment involved.
Perform fault calculations and coordination relay settings both within BPA and to review and coordinate with adjoining utilities.
Provide engineering advice and services on system operation, equipment theory, and equipment problems to BPA and other utility personnel in the district as well as external utilities.
As an Electrical Engineer GS-13, you will:
Independently performs fault calculations and WECC-mandated relay settings reviews both within BPA and to review and coordinate those calculations and settings with adjoining utilities.
Completes and reviews AGC and interchange and customer revenue meter settings for new capital construction projects and customer interconnection projects and maintenance projects.
Provides and submits WECC-required documentation for relay settings, as covered under WECC PRC compliance standards.
Independently completes and reviews relay settings on schedule for new capital construction projects and existing maintenance applications including line relay settings, transformer relay settings, bank differential relay settings, bus differential settings, capacitor and reactor relay settings, and settings for other protective relay equipment.
Leads and coordinates the testing and energization of new construction SPC systems and equipment within the District.
Is the Technical Specialist and subject-matter expert on near-obsolete relaying equipment in the district that needs to be kept in operation and maintained until it is replaced by more modern equipment.
Coordinates with customers, state and federal agencies, the general public etc. outside of BPA as necessary to accomplish relay coordination.
Independently analyzes automatic fault clearing operations for proper protective scheme and power circuit breaker operation.
Independently investigates and resolves problems and abnormal conditions in electrical SPC systems and equipment; conducts detailed, comprehensive engineering studies to determine cause of equipment failures; researches trends and patterns.
REQUIREMTNS: Conditions of Employment
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 2 days per pay period.
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 position requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment.
The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0755: https://apps.opm.gov/SpecialRates/
Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
QUALIFIACTIONS:
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 electronic.
-OR-
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: (See Qualification Section for the rest of these competences)
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.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package.
(See Required Documents section on application).
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.