Electronics Engineer

Summary This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration, in the Operational Engineering (JOE) organization of Operational Services (JO), Chief Information Office (J). A successful candidate in the Electronics Engineer position will serve as an electronics engineer performing a wide range of professional engineering studies and assignments. Responsibilities At the full performance level, as an Electronics Engineer, you will: Design and implement cutting-edge protection, control, and telecommunications systems for high-power grid networks. You will transform complex functional requirements into precision-engineered hardware and software solutions, establishing high-reliability automation standards across the transmission landscape. Provide direct engineering support for 24/7 real-time transmission grid control centers. You will harden electronic security perimeters, design robust intrusion detection systems, implement vulnerability patching, and ensure strict compliance with federal reliability and security standards (NERC, WECC, FISMA). Collaborate with industry-leading manufacturers and technical partners to test, evaluate, and integrate innovative electronic devices and first-article equipment. You will spearhead testing and energization protocols that push the technological capabilities of modern utilities forward. Conduct in-depth engineering analyses to resolve intricate technical bottlenecks, upgrade major system segments, and expand network capacity. You will evaluate competing alternatives and propose high-impact modernization pathways for complex transmission environments. Take ownership of high-visibility engineering projects from concept to commissioning. You will establish technical milestones, build and manage project budgets, oversee multidisciplinary contractor efforts, and ensure successful operational deployment on schedule. Establish, review, and modernize engineering criteria, design standards, and component specifications used across BPA's vast regional footprint. Your evaluations will determine standard-part adoption and guide equipment manufacturers in meeting rigorous grid reliability criteria. Apply engineering expertise to forward-looking grid modernization programs, including distributed energy resources, modern market integration tools, fuel cell initiatives, and energy transformation projects that make the regional power grid more adaptable and sustainable. Act as the authoritative technical resource on electronic control and communications systems. You will advise senior leadership on the technical implications of policy decisions, represent BPA in cross-agency and vendor forums, and guide junior engineers and technicians through complex troubleshooting and design reviews. Requirements Conditions of Employment 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! 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: May be required to successfully complete a probationary period. This position has been designated as requiring a PUBLIC TRUST background. 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: 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: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the meeting the basic requirement, 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. GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09). Specialized experience is defined as experience conducting engineering analyses, calculations, or studies to support the design, installation, or operation of electronic control, protection, data acquisition, or telecommunications equipment. You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows: Three years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree, or Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree; your education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work. -OR- Combination of education and experience as described above. Less than one year of specialized experience may be combined with graduate education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level (i.e., credit hours beyond the first two years of full-time study may be credited). GS-12: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-11). Specialized experience is defined as experience 1) planning and conducting engineering studies or analyses related to system integration, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure/control systems; 2) designing, testing, evaluating, and integrating new or experimental electronic control equipment to find means of improving systems performance. There is no substitution of education for experience at the GS-12 grade 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". 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. Under the Employee Referral Bonus program, certain BPA employees may be eligible for a monetary award for referring outside candidates for this difficult-to-fill position. The referring employee must complete the form BPA F 33300.01e and email it to View email address on click.appcast.io by midnight of the closing date of the job posting. EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity 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. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy 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 Accommodations 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 here. Veterans Information: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Telework: Selective Service Registration: - Who must register: 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.