Mechanical Engineer

Bureau of Reclamation • Grand Coulee, WA

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About The Position

This position is with the Grand Coulee Power Office (GCPO) of the Bureau of Reclamation, within the Department of the Interior. The Mechanical Engineer provides technical expertise and mentorship on complex projects and activities at Grand Coulee Dam, a major hydropower facility and a source of irrigation water for the Columbia Basin Project.

The role supports maintenance, operation, and engineering projects involving turbines and related hydroelectric generation equipment. It is an entry-level engineer position in Reclamation’s Rotation Engineer Training Program, with intensive training and professional development. Participants may be hired at GS-05 or GS-07 and may be considered for accelerated promotions; promotions are not guaranteed. Duties may be developmental below the full performance level. The position may be suitable for telework with supervisor approval.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship or nationality.
• Meet the basic engineering education requirement through an ABET-accredited engineering program; specified engineering coursework; or an eligible combination of education and experience, registration/licensure, written examination, specified coursework, or related curriculum and experience.
• For GS-07, one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-05 level, demonstrating mechanical engineering theories, principles, and practices involving electrical power, communication, and control drawings, or applicable experience with industrial systems and electrical work on large facilities; alternatively, meet the stated graduate-education or Superior Academic Achievement substitution.
• Submit transcripts when using education to qualify or substitute for experience; selected applicants who qualify using education must provide official transcripts before beginning work.
• Complete the required USA Hire Assessment within the stated deadline after receiving the assessment notice.
• Meet applicable background-investigation and favorable-adjudication requirements, E-Verify requirements, and Selective Service registration requirements where applicable.
• Complete training and obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority.
• Serve a one-year probationary period; continued employment requires written agency certification.
• FAC Contracting Officer’s Representative or Grants Officer’s Technical Representative certification and/or training may be required depending on assignment.
• Meet the minimum age requirement: at least 18, or at least 16 under one of the listed education or student-employment conditions.
• Resume must specify full-time or part-time status and hours per week for experience to be credited.

Responsibilities

• Assist with or provide input for plans, specifications, and engineering estimates for repairs, maintenance, and improvements to turbines and related hydroelectric generation equipment.
• Participate in and assist with preliminary design studies, design memoranda, final design calculations and plans, technical specification provisions, and labor and material estimates.
• Review mechanical portions of engineering designs to identify potential deficiencies and discrepancies, and prepare comments and recommendations for corrections.
• Prepare drawings showing proposed or as-built project conditions.
• Participate in rotational tours of duty at GCPO facilities in Engineering Design, O&M Engineering, Construction, and Operations, and at other regional facilities.
• Participate in classroom and on-the-job training through work details at various GCPO facilities.
• Test powerplant equipment, share test results, and prepare reports of findings.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to the employee and family, subject to eligibility.
• A recruitment or relocation incentive may be offered if the applicant is eligible; it is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

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