Description
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is a federal nonprofit wholesale power marketer that delivers electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to millions of consumers and businesses across eight states in the Pacific Northwest. BPA operates three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission grid and supports one of the world’s largest fish and wildlife programs, while pursuing cost-effective energy solutions that keep power reliable and affordable. Team members benefit from strong work/life balance and can choose from locations that offer both outdoor recreation and urban amenities across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. BPA values the knowledge and experience of veterans and provides dedicated career pathways for students and recent graduates interested in the energy sector. For official information, applicants are encouraged to visit www.bpa.gov and review BPA’s Privacy Policy for use of third-party websites. You can learn more about BPA at http://www.bpa.gov/.
JOB TITLE: Electrical Engineer
This position is in the Power Services (P), at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.
HOW TO APPLY: External Application Link(s):
26-BPA- 51455-12996962-DE: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/875111400
26-BPA- 51455-12996963-MP: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/875112100
Open & Close date: Open: 07/01/2026 Close: 07/10/2026
LOCATION(s) Many vacancies in the following locations:
Idaho Falls, ID- Gold Creek, MT – Kalispell, MT – Goshen, OR – Keizer, OR – Malin, OR – North Bend, OR – Redmond, OR – The Dalles, OR, Umatilla, OR – Bremerton, WA – Clarkston, WA- East Wenatchee, WA- Grand Coulee, WA – Kent, WA- Longview, WA – Olympia, WA – Pasco, WA – Richland, WA – Snohomish, WA- Spokane, WA – Vancouver, WA
SALARY: $ 71,846 - $142,737 per year
DUTIES:
We are seeking a driven Electrical Engineers that will serve as a SPC field engineer maintaining equipment in the District which is essential for continuity of electrical power delivered throughout the Northwest..
As an Electrical Engineer, 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.
REQUIREMENTS: 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:
- This position requires a valid driver's license as a condition 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.
- Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.
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:
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).
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 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as:
GS-7: 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-05 in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience using practical knowledge of basic electrical engineering concepts and methods to investigate electrical equipment malfunction by following standard procedures.
GS-09: 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-07 in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience using practical knowledge of electrical engineering concepts and methods to perform analysis on electrical equipment failures by following established procedures, conducting tests, and interpreting results to recommend effective corrective actions.
GS-11: 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-09 in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience participating in electrical engineering studies, analysis, and testing activities related to the operation, maintenance, or construction of a transmission or distribution power system..
You may substitute education for specialized experience for the GS-7, GS-9, & GS-11 levels – See Specialized Experience section for full details.
GS-12: 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-11) in the Federal service.
Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience applying electrical engineering principles, concepts, and practices to transmission or distribution power systems, specifically related to System Protection and Control (SPC) systems and equipment including experience with protective relaying, metering, telemetering, alarm and data logging systems, and control schemes supporting the design, integration, operation, or maintenance of such systems.
There is no substitution of education for specialized experience at the GS-12 level.
"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. In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts. 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.
Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".
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.
USAHire: To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.
