Interdisciplinary Civil Engineer (Construction Management)/Electrical Engineer/Electronics Engineer

Bonneville Power Administration • Vancouver, WA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration, in the High Voltage Construction Management (TFHM) and Facilities Construction and Quality Assurance (TFHQ) organizations, Transmission Field Services (TF), Transmission Services (T). A successful candidate in the Interdisciplinary Civil Engineer (Construction Management)/Electrical Engineer/Electronics Engineer position will serve as a technical specialist in construction management by managing contracted construction activity. Lead the Modernization of Our High-Voltage Grid as a Senior Construction Engineering Specialist. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) delivers clean, reliable, and sustainable hydropower and transmission services to millions of people across the Pacific Northwest. As we modernize and expand our massive high-voltage electrical transmission system, we need visionary technical leaders. In this critical, interdisciplinary GS-13 engineering role (Civil, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering), you will not just oversee construction-you will shape the future of our region's energy infrastructure. Serving as the primary technical authority, you will manage major, complex grid modernization and construction projects from inception to energization, ensuring the safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of our regional power system.

Requirements

• Must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must report in person to the official duty location.
• Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
• Requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment.
• Subject to emergency call outs.
• Employees are subject to having their regular work day extended or being contacted outside of normal working hours when there is an emergency or particularly adverse situation.
• Frequent travel required.
• 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.
• Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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: Using the techniques, principles, and policies of project management or project engineering to 1) plan, direct, and coordinate activities utilizing broad professional knowledge of diverse engineering concepts and methods; 2) preparing proposed project plans, milestones, schedules, and budgets; and 3) demonstrating project management or project engineering experience in one or more of the following: distribution or transmission line construction, substation construction, utility construction, heavy-industrial construction, or facility construction is required.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Lead Technical and Construction Consultant: Act as the premier engineering authority across internal departments, external public agencies, utility partners, and the public. Guide complex high-voltage grid initiatives through high-level collaboration, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on project expectations, safety, and execution strategies.
• Drive Project Feasibility and Risk Management: Direct comprehensive front-end project planning, including cost estimates, construction timelines, power outage coordination, environmental protections, and land rights. Evaluate engineering designs for risk, practical constructability, and operational efficiency, resolving conflicts before ground is even broken.
• Direct and Coordinate High-Performing Field Teams: Lead and inspire diverse technical teams in the field. Align the efforts of resident engineers, quality assurance inspectors, safety personnel, and specialized testing/commissioning engineers to ensure work is executed safely and in strict accordance with engineering designs.
• Shape Strategic Contracting and Resource Allocation: Develop and execute tailored contracting strategies that maximize the use of public funds. Assess the capabilities of external construction firms to match complex grid projects with the best-fit industry partners, driving high efficiency and value.
• Partner with Contracting Officers on Major Financial Decisions: Serve as the technical anchor for multimillion-dollar construction agreements. Evaluate competitive bids, negotiate complex contract modifications, and recommend milestone payments, ensuring technical requirements translate seamlessly into contract execution.
• Enforce Rigorous Quality and Field Compliance: Conduct active on-site field evaluations to monitor contractor performance. Maintain the ultimate authority to halt, reject, or correct non-conforming construction, ensuring high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and fiber-optic networks meet uncompromising quality standards.
• Resolve Multi-Disciplinary and Unforeseen Engineering Challenges: Spearhead the resolution of unexpected field conditions, sudden weather challenges, and design-versus-construction conflicts. Use engineering ingenuity to navigate highly complex, multi-phase projects extending beyond a single specialty area, keeping schedules on track.
• Establish Long-Term Standards and Best Practices: Drive agency-wide excellence by standardizing construction administration specifications, developing advanced training modules, and capturing lessons learned. Elevate the standard of engineering practice and continuous improvement across the entire organization.

Benefits

• 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.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

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