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Electrical Engineer (Power System Real-Time Electrical Engineer)

Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Upper Great Plains Region, Power Systems Operation, Transmission System Planning (B4400)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

As an Electrical Engineer (Power System Real-Time Electrical Engineer), you will study the power generation and transmission facilities of the Bulk Electric System and lower voltage systems in the Upper Great Plains (UGP) region and the power generation and transmission facilities for which the UGP region is agent.

This is not a remote position. The selectee will be required to be physically present at the Watertown, SD duty location.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
06/04/2024 to 06/14/2024
Salary
$111,793 to - $158,903 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 3 - 4
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Watertown, SD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
4
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
High Risk (HR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
24-WB-00513-12406198-DE
Control number
794185500

Duties

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As an Electrical Engineer (Power System Real Time Electrical Engineer) you will:

  • Conduct real-time, current-day, and next-day transmission studies for the Bulk Electric System (BES) and impacted facilities owned by, operated by, or interconnected to the Western Area Power Administration Upper Great Plains Region transmission system.
  • Real-time and immediate operations horizon power system applications include (but are not limited to) event analysis, contingency planning, outage coordination, and performing operational technical studies including the usage of real-time state estimation software.
  • Responsible for the timely completion of these and other program activities while meeting applicable FERC rules and regulations, NERC/WECC Standards, Reliability Coordinators, and WAPA and DOE policies, procedures, and guidelines.
  • Conduct analysis, problem solving, development, implementation, and reporting of technical findings related to the Western Area Power Administration Upper Great Plains Region transmission system for normal and emergency operating conditions are of primary importance.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period.
  • This position requires the ability to operate a government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, able to obtain and maintain a Defensive Driver's certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment.
  • 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.
  • If you are tentatively selected for this position, you will be required to have a physical examination that will determine whether you are qualified to perform the duties of the position. An offer of employment will depend upon your successfully passing the physical examination.
  • This position requires completion of an annual medical examination at Federal expense.
  • This position may require regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays and weekends in support of related mission requirements.

Qualifications

To be rated qualified for this position, you MUST meet the basic education requirements below for the series to which you are applying.

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:

  1. 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-
  2. 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-
  3. 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-
  4. 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 please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: 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.

To qualify for the AD-03: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of an Electrical Engineer (Power System Real-Time Electrical Engineer), at the AD-02 (or GS-09) grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience MUST include all the following:

  • Knowledge of general electrical engineering principles and practices applicable to the planning, deployment, and operation of high voltage (100 kV or higher) interconnected electrical power system comprised of transmission and power generation, including controls, communications, and components involved in the operation and protection of high voltage electric power systems.
  • Knowledge of electrical engineering theories, practices, principles, and techniques.
-OR- Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related.

-OR- Combination of education and experience to successfully perform the duties of the position.

To qualify for the AD-04: Applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of an Electrical Engineer (Power System Real-Time Electrical Engineer), at the AD-03 (or GS-11) grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience MUST include all the following:
  • Knowledge of general electrical engineering principles and practices applicable to the planning, deployment, and operation of high voltage (100 kV or higher) interconnected electrical power system comprised of transmission and power generation, including controls, communications, and components involved in the operation and protection of high voltage electric power systems.
  • Knowledge of electrical engineering theories, practices, principles, and techniques.
  • Experience with the utilization of power flow and stability software as well as real time state estimation software.
"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.

Education

This vacancy specifically states that certain educational requirements must be met (also known as a "positive educational requirement"), you must provide documentation supporting any education claims in your application. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

Additional information

The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.
  • For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov
  • If selection is made at a lower grade, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
  • The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a compensation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

  • Decision Making
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Technical Competence

Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as scoring in the Well Qualified category (or higher).

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (06/14/2024) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12406198

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