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Western Area Power Administration · Lakewood, CO · posted Nov 6, 2026

Civil Engineer

$106K to $143K a year

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The role

As a Civil Engineer, you'll will serve as engineering support in the functional areas of structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, cost estimating, or site development. This position provides support in the planning, design, review, and coordination in design projects involving the discipline of civil engineering for WAPA's power system facilities including buildings, transmission lines and substations. *This is not a remote position. Required to be physically present in Lakewood, CO*

As a Civil Engineer, you will: Prepare and participates in the planning, design, review, and coordination in any design projects involving the discipline of civil engineering related to WAPA's power system facilities. Prepare and review structural analysis for buildings, electrical equipment structures, communication towers and transmission line structures.

Applicants MUST meet both the Basic Requirement AND Specialized Experience as outlined below for each grade level.

Basic Requirements

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 Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (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 license -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1 , or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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. 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.

OR Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field 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. **Refer to OPM's All Professional Engineering Positions, 0800 Individual Occupational Requirements for more information.

Specialized Experience Requirements

A qualified candidate's 2-page resume must demonstrate at least one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: To qualify for the GS-11 level: Applicants must have either: Education: Three (3) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. -OR- Specialized Experience: One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-09 grade level or equivalent pay band.

This experience MUST include at least two (2) of the following, assisting with: Preparation of design drawings, technical specifications, and/or cost estimates. Performing structural analysis and design, or foundation design, or civil sitework. Reviewing technical documents and/or contractor submittals for compliance with basic engineering requirements and project specifications. Providing technical support by researching standards, criteria, and/or previous project documentation.

To qualify for the GS-12 level: Education cannot be substituted for experience. Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band. This experience MUST include at least two (2) of the following: Planning, organizing, coordinating, or the preparation of engineering estimates, designs, drawings and specifications for a diverse variety of civil type projects such as buildings, or electrical equipment structures, structure foundations, drainage facilities, or piping and containment ponds.

Analyzing structures and foundations. Serves as a professional resource for engineering aspects related to buildings, transmission lines, substation structures, or geotechnical engineering. Prepare and review technical documents and contractor submittals for compliance with engineering requirements and project 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. NOTE: Education and experience may be combined for all grade levels for which both education and experience are acceptable.

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