Electrical Engineering (Operations & Transmission Planning )

Western Area Power Administration • Folsom, CA

9d

About The Position

This developmental Electrical Engineering position is part of the Western Area Power Administration’s Sierra Nevada Region and focuses on Operations and Transmission Planning. The position is performed under close supervision while the employee completes training to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for the work. The full performance level is GS-13, with duties modified for selections made at lower grades.

At the full performance level, the engineer independently creates, directs, prepares, coordinates, and reviews operations engineering and planning studies. This includes planning studies covering years one through ten to develop regional electric infrastructure capital projects addressing network load growth, and operational planning studies covering current day through one year to assess needed power system additions and modifications. The role also develops, maintains, coordinates, and reviews power-flow, stability, and short-circuit models for Regional Entity and Regional Transmission System needs.

The engineer works with Compliance personnel on issues related to maintaining or improving compliance with FERC Orders and NERC Regional Entity reliability standards. The role also coaches staff in selecting and applying problem-solving methods, advises on work methods and procedures, and helps staff identify parameters for study solutions.

Work is primarily sedentary and office-based, with trips to operating facilities and occasional work at high-voltage transmission lines and substations. Field activities may involve hazards around energized circuits and equipment and require protective clothing and standard safety procedures. The incumbent must be able to operate a government vehicle and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and a valid state driver’s license.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must meet the 0800-series engineering basic requirement through an eligible engineering degree, an accepted combination of education and experience, or another listed qualifying route such as professional registration, passing the FE examination, specified coursework, or a related curriculum with qualifying engineering experience.
• Must meet the specialized experience or education requirements for the grade level applied for. GS-05 has no specialized experience requirement but requires the 0800-series basic requirement.
• For GS-07, demonstrate one year of qualifying GS-05-equivalent experience performing basic electrical power or transmission calculations, studies, or simulations and/or assisting with engineering design and technical documentation; alternatively, qualifying education may satisfy the requirement.
• For GS-09, demonstrate one year of qualifying GS-07-equivalent experience assisting with technical power-system planning and tariff studies, analyzing power flow and system integrity, and/or maintaining or updating power-flow, stability, or short-circuit models; alternatively, qualifying graduate education or a combination of education and experience may satisfy the requirement.
• For GS-11, demonstrate one year of qualifying GS-09-equivalent experience preparing, coordinating, and reviewing transmission-system operational planning studies and coordinating and executing long-range regional electrical infrastructure planning studies for load growth and system performance; alternatively, qualifying doctoral-level graduate education or a combination of education and experience may satisfy the requirement.
• Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation; the position is designated moderate risk from GS-05 through GS-13.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers certification and hold a valid state driver’s license; the position requires the ability to operate a government vehicle.
• May be required to successfully complete a probationary or trial period.
• May be required to work outside normal duty hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• If relying on education, degrees and coursework must meet accreditation requirements; foreign education must be evaluated by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants must limit their resume to no more than two pages; only the first two pages will be reviewed if a longer resume is submitted.

Responsibilities

• Create, direct, prepare, coordinate, and review operations engineering and planning studies.
• Create, direct, prepare, coordinate, and review planning studies covering years one through ten to develop regional electric infrastructure capital projects that address network load growth.
• Work with Compliance personnel to address issues and maintain or improve compliance with FERC Orders and NERC Regional Entity reliability standards.
• Coach staff in selecting and applying problem-solving methods and techniques, advise on work methods and procedures, and assist staff in identifying parameters for study solutions.
• Develop, prepare, maintain, coordinate, and review power-flow, stability, and short-circuit models for Regional Entity and Regional Transmission System needs.
• Prepare, coordinate, and review operational planning studies covering current day through one year, and report on power system additions and modifications needed to meet regional needs.
• Operate a government vehicle as required and follow applicable driver certification and safety requirements.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits are available to eligible employees; the announcement describes a comprehensive benefits package but does not itemize specific benefits.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be available to a selectee, subject to an employment agreement.
• Newly appointed Federal employees may request credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level