Electrical Engineer

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration, in Transmission Services, Transmission Planning (TPP), Reliability Planning/Service Planning/Infrastructure Development Planning/CapabilitiesPlanning (TPP/A/B/C/D) A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position will be a senior engineer and technical specialist responsible for a variety of activities involved in planning BPA's transmission system and providing guidance for asset investment strategy.

As an Electrical Engineer, you will: Serves as a senior engineer and technical specialist responsible for a variety of activities involved in planning BPA's transmission system, including meeting reliability requirements for load interconnection, generation interconnection, and transmission transfer capability expansion. Provides guidance, advice as well as performs power system simulations that include power flow, voltage stability and transient stability studies on large-scale power system including analyzing and interpreting study results to identify problems and potential solutions.

Develops, validates and implements power system models in transmission system studies, including computer models for loads, generators, the Pacific Direct Current Intertie (PDCI), energy storage devices, dynamic voltage control devices, and other control devices. As a subject matter expert works with interconnected utilities in developing cost effective joint transmission reinforcement plans to solve regional problems.

Serves as a consultant and expert advisor on the technical aspect of the transmission planning reports and expansion plans proposed by the neighboring and regional utilities. Provide mentoring and guidance to less experienced junior engineers conducting studies of a similar nature.

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 GS-12 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:1) leading and performing complex power grid simulations and using the results to identify and mitigate deficiencies according to regional and national reliability standards (NERC or WECC) and 2) creating detailed, long-term plans to expand the power grid, and 3) serving as a lead technical expert or advisor to solve regional grid challenges and develop corresponding technical requirements. "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 Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration. CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.