Welder

Summary

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration in Specialty Services (TFHS) organization of Construction & Maintenance Services (TFH) Transmission Field Services (TF) Transmission Services (T).

A successful candidate in the Welder position will lay out and fabricate welded products in the shop or at other installations in the BPA system.

Duties

As a Welder you will:

• From drawings and verbal instructions fabricates assembles and repairs all types of bus fittings from copper or aluminum.
• From work sheets or drawings fabricates and pre-stresses all types of bus consisting of copper or aluminum.
• Erect copper or aluminum bus in switchyards
• From drawings and verbal instructions fabricates and installs at proper elevations oil lines on transformers and breakers.
• Perform all types of general welding on shop fabrications steel stainless steel aluminum and chromium structures trucks dozers cranes booms shovel buckets etc.
• Select proper electrode alloys for the type of metal to be worked. Uses electric and diesel generator welding machines including heliarc mig and stick process. Silver solder plasma and oxy-fuel cutting carbon arc gouging. Uses various heavy machine tools as required such as power saws cut off saws CNC guided plasma & oxy/fuel cutting machine drill press pipe bending machine etc.
• From written or oral instructions blueprints or sketches the Welder plans own work makes templates when necessary and selects methods materials and machines appropriate for the project.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

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 drivers license as a condition of employment.
• Possess or obtain within 6 months of employment and maintain continuously thereafter an interstate Class B Drivers License. Good Driving Record: traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants. Failure to obtain within 6 months of employment or to maintain a valid Class B drivers license or maintain an Operator authorization may be cause for removal from Federal service.
• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• This position requires a preemployment medical exam at BPA expense prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
• 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.
• Obtain a BPA Welder Certificate.
• Operate motor vehicles including sedans pick-up trucks 4 x 4s vans flatbed trucks forklifts and/or aerial manlifts.
• 100% travel to field sites may be required.
• Subject to call for emergency work outside normal duty hours.
• Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators welder safety equipment steel toe boots and hard hats for worker safety.
• Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• Obtain and maintain a valid non-electrical workers permit within 30 days of hire.
• Obtain and maintain authorized unescorted access to BPA energized and non-energized facilities.
• Possess and maintain a valid First Aid Card. Take First Aid refresher training.
• Be certified on aerial lift equipment or other equipment when assigned to use or operate within 90 days of appointment.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations (X-118C). Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience not necessarily the length of time.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge skills abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess these elements and screen out. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the elements and screen out identified below. This job has a screen-out factors which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on this screen-out element(s) or who do not score at least half of the total points possible across all elements will be found ineligible.

The screen-out element for this position is: Ability to successfully perform the work of a Welder defined as safely performing the majority of the following welding duties: use templates blueprints and other guides to repair modify or fabricate metal items and weld metal parts and structures weld in positions to include flat horizontal vertical and overhead; use various heavy machine tools such as power saws cut off saws computer guided plasma & oxy/fuel cutting machine drill press and pipe bending machines without more then normal supervision. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient you will receive no further preparing your application describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in the General Shops at the Ross Complex and at field sites.
• Work may be both indoors and outdoors anywhere in the BPA system according to the type of work being performed.
• Work at considerable height and on precarious footing during inclement weather.
• Hazards include working around energized high voltage electrical equipment; climbing on ladders or scaffolding; working around machinery with moving parts; exposure to fumes smoke gases and falling objects.
• The Welder may be required to work at heights up to 150 feet from aerial ladders and boom truck baskets with safety harness.
• The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous materials (i.e. acids solvents PCBs etc.) requiring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) that could if precautions are not followed pose a health risk.
• Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil acid etc.) or when welding.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to climb in and out of aerial manlift buckets averaging 40 high. May be required to work at heights up to 100 feet from aerial ladders and boom truck baskets.
• Balancing required on narrow and slippery surfaces at heights and in varied weather conditions as well as on uneven ground.
• Ability to stand an average of 2 hours with a maximum of 5 hours uninterrupted.
• Lifts tools and equipment. Average is 20 pounds.
• Works in cramped awkward positions while reaching lifting bending and using hand and power tools and positioning pieces.
• Shop and field work requires work with arms overhead or occasionally outstretched for extended periods of time.
• Drive 20% of time in all weather conditions.

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.

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

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

Additional information

• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE

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
Veterans Information :
Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Telework : Service Registration: - Who must register: 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.