Electrical Engineer

Summary This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in the Transmission Grid Modeling (TPMG), Communications & Grid Modeling (TPM), Planning & Asset Management (TP), Transmission Services (T) Organization. A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position is responsible for working both internally and externally to verify and improve generator modeling within the BPA Planning Coordinator area in accordance with industry and NERC standards. Responsibilities As an Electrical Engineer, you will: Serve as point of contact for outside utilities and BPA organizations for the acquisition, analysis, and delivery of generator modeling information. Verify generator models and modeling parameters in accordance with applicable NERC Reliability Standards. Serve as a point of contact when working with BPA Customer Service Engineers, or customer utilities directly, to gather new or updated generator modeling information in support of basecase creation. Work as a team member in the Transmission Grid Modeling group to assist in resolving problems associated with utilities data submittals for use in the WECC basecase development process for the NW control area which includes generator modeling parameters. Maintain the organizations Master Dynamics Database used to build basecases with updates received from both internal and external sources regarding generator and relay models. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications BASIC REQUIREMENT: A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelors 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 bachelors 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 bachelors 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 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidates 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: Applying advanced electrical engineering theories, concepts, and principals sufficient to use, modify, or develop planning and operations basecases for power flow and transient stability studies. “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. Physical Demands: The work is normally sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required in stooping, kneeling, bending, etc. Work Environment: Work is typically performed in an adequately lighted and climate controlled office setting. May require occasional travel. 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. 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”. Additional Information About the Position – Vancouver This position is located in Vancouver, WA, a splendid place to live because of its picturesque downtown area full of trendy shops, delicious restaurants, and exclusive breweries. There are several breathtaking nature parks, miles of bike trails, and amazing panoramic mountain views! Vancouver is the perfect place for anyone who loves to be outdoors and really enjoys nature! The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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 Information on how to create a federal resume https://www.usa.gov/government-jobs https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website. If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established “well qualified” category as stated in the Qualifications section. Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year. Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation. All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and dont have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government. EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Veterans Information: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/unique-hiring-paths/veterans/disabled/ Telework: www.telework.gov Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations. BPA strives to ensure a safe, positive, inclusive work environment, supported by Leadership Behaviors. For more information on Leadership Behaviors visit: www.bpa.gov/goto/LeadershipBehaviors We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.