Electrical Engineer

US Bonneville Power Administration; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonneville Power Administration seeks an Electrical Engineer to serve as the lead technical authority in Substation Engineering, coordinating all aspects of developing indoor and outdoor substation equipment. You will apply advanced electrical engineering theories to protective relays, relaying communications, and control systems across BPA's transmission assets.

The role requires meeting stringent education and experience criteria, with licensure or FE exam as applicable, and a commitment to

Qualifications

• Advanced electrical engineering theory applied to protective relays, relaying communications, control systems, and substations equipment.
• Experience applying protective relays and protection schemes to indoor/outdoor substations.
• Education and/or experience meeting ABET accreditation and professional licensure criteria.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical authority for coordinating all aspects of substations indoor/outdoor equipment development.
• Serve as subject matter expert in protection and control systems within Substation Engineering.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure reliable and compliant substation design.

Skills

Electrical theory

Protective relays

Relay communications

Substation control systems

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Combination of education and experience

Professional registration or FE exam

Job description

This position is located with in Engineering Support (TEES), Substation Engineering (TEE), Transmission Engineering & Technical Services (TE), Transmission Services (TE), Bonneville Power Administration (BPA).

A successful candidate in the Electrical Engineer position will serve as a lead technical authority in Substation Engineering with full technical authority and responsibility for coordinating all aspects and activities related to the development of substations indoor/outdoor equipment.

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:

1. 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-
2. 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-
3. 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-
4. 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 [12] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Experience in applying advanced electrical engineering theories, concepts, and principles sufficient to use in the development, evaluation, selection and enhancement for protective relays, protective relaying communications, control systems, and related substation indoor/outdoor equipment OR) 2. Experience in applying advanced electrical engineering theories, concepts, and principles with medium voltage/station service and/or 500KV/230KV/115KV transformer 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 organisations. 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.