Electronics Engineer.

Bonneville Power Administration; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) seeks a senior Electronics Engineer to shape and secure the Pacific Northwest grid communications. You will lead long-range telecom strategy, design next-generation systems including fiber and microwave networks, and serve as the principal technical advisor on transmission planning.

You will represent BPA in industry policy discussions and negotiate critical inter-utility agreements while mentoring junior staff and guiding complex engineering projects across

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in engineering from ABET-accredited program or equivalent.
• Professional registration/licensure or FE/written test can meet requirements.
• Experience applying electronics engineering to plan comms and control systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead long-range telecom strategy for regional communications.
• Design and blueprint next-generation microwave, fiber, and mobile radio systems.
• Provide authoritative technical advice to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Electronics engineering principles

Telecommunication agreements

Technical guidance

Education

ABET-accredited engineering program

FE exam or engineering licensure eligibility

Job description

Duties

Powering the Pacific Northwest: Shape the Future of Grid Communications

At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), we power lives and drive the economy of the Pacific Northwest. Our high-voltage transmission grid is the backbone of the region's clean energy, and it relies on a sophisticated, highly secure communications network to run safely and reliably.

We are seeking a senior-level Electronics Engineer to serve as a principal strategist and technical expert. In this role, you won't just maintain existing systems—you will design, expand, and safeguard the critical telecommunications infrastructure (including advanced fiber optic and microwave radio networks) that keeps our power grid smart, responsive, and secure.

Here are the key opportunities and duties where you will make a lasting impact:

• Lead Long-Range Telecom Strategy - Conduct visionary, long-range studies of our sprawling regional communications system. You will evaluate the capacity of our radio and fiber networks, identifying where to expand, upgrade, and secure funding to keep BPA at the cutting edge of utility communications.
• Design Next-Generation Communication Systems - Create comprehensive blueprints and functional blueprints for next-generation microwave systems, fiber optic network upgrades, and advanced mobile radio technologies that directly support regional grid operations and customer energy connections.
• Serve as the Principal Technical Advisor - Act as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert on complex transmission and communication planning. You will provide authoritative advice to internal engineering groups, external utility partners, and BPA's executive leadership.
• Champion Industry Policies and Standards - Represent BPA on influential national and regional committees. You will help write, interpret, and update industry policies and compliance standards that govern how modern, large-scale utility communication networks operate safely.
• Negotiate High-Impact Utility Agreements - Formulate and negotiate critical business and technical agreements with other major utilities and commercial partners. This includes drafting agreements for shared network usage, leased fiber-optic capacity, and regional system interconnections.
• Resolve Complex Technical Challenges - Dive deep into unique, unprecedented engineering obstacles. You will perform system requirement analyses, resolve complex technical discrepancies between organizations, and evaluate the feasibility of innovative communication solutions.
• Secure Project Funding and Build Business Cases - Translate technical engineering concepts into compelling, high-level business cases for executive leadership. Your expertise will secure the necessary funding and resources to bring major capital infrastructure projects to life.
• Mentor the Next Generation of Engineers - Share your mastery and passion for engineering by mentoring junior staff, coaching student interns, and developing instructional guides to pass on critical knowledge and sustain a high-performing team.

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:

• 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.
• A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

• 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-
• 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:

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 experience 1) applying electronics engineering principles to plan communication and control systems in support of a high-voltage transmission network, including interconnection requests; and 2) providing technical guidance, developing and negotiating telecommunication agreements.

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.

Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See

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

In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts.

Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible".

Additional information

• The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0754:
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE

EEO Policy

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement.

Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodation for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments

Veterans Information

Telework

Selective Service Registration

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 and positive work environment.

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.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.