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Machinist

Department of Energy
Bonneville Power Administration
This job announcement has closed

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 Machinist position will lay out and fabricate machined, tower steel and related products in the Ross Machine Shop or at other installations in the BPA system.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
09/16/2025 to 09/25/2025
Salary
$68.44 to - $68.44 per hour
Pay scale & grade
BB 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Vancouver, WA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
25-BPA-48022-12801484-DE
Control number
846140700

Duties

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As a Machinist, you will:

  • From shop orders, verbal instructions, drawings, or other sketches determines work procedure, the machines and tools to be used, and occasionally the material required.
  • Lays out operations on work piece involving interrelated dimensions and contours by scribing lines, arcs, circles, angles, tapers, center distances, and location points as a guide to setting up-the work on machine and machining to close tolerances. Computes clearance, tolerance, pitch, and fit.
  • Sets up work on machines such as lathes, drill presses, power metal saws, ironworkers, line drilling machinery, milling machines, CNC turning and machining centers. Possesses CNC programming experience. Performs set-ups using specially constructed work holding devices, chucks or clamps, and aligns parts for accurate machining.
  • Grinds, sharpens, and modifies cutting tools.
  • Operates standard machine tools such as a lathes, drill presses, milling machines, and grinders to close tolerances. Makes necessary adjustments to keep machines in operation. Determines speeds, feeds, and sequence of operations.
  • May assemble and disassemble, file, chip, scrape, ream, and anneal, incidental to machining operations. Fits parts together and checks work to close tolerances.
  • From preliminary sketches or oral and very general instructions, develops ideas and preliminary designs into practical tools and devices. Works closely with design engineers and supervisors in developing new and improved tools and devices.
  • Assists in and evaluates purchase of new tools and equipment as requested by the Manager for General Crafts Services.
Under the Employee Referral Bonus program, certain BPA employees may be eligible for a monetary award for referring outside candidates for this difficult-to-fill position. The referring employee must complete the form BPA F 33300.01e and email it to careers@bpa.gov by midnight of the closing date of the job posting

Requirements

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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 driver's license as a condition of 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.
  • 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.
  • Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
  • Furnish the standard hand tools common to the trade.
  • Subject to call out for emergency work outside normal duty hours.
  • Possess a valid non-electrical workers permit, or obtain one within 30 days after appointment, as applicable.
  • Travel to field sites occasionally.
  • Possess within one year of appointment, and maintain continuously thereafter, a First Aid Card and a CPR card.
  • Operate motor vehicles, including sedans, pickup, trucks, vans, and/or aerial man lifts.
  • Obtain certification on the equipment associated with the machinist shop if assigned to use or operate.
  • Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.

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 Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision . Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

"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.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement

Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility
.

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: USAJOBS Help Center - Veterans
Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Telework: https://www.opm.gov/telework/
Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register

Hiring 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly

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

  • Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
  • Ability To Use Hand Tools for Machine Shop
  • Ability To Use Shop Drawings
  • Knowledge of Metals
  • Measurement and Layout
  • Operation of Machine Tools
  • Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)


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 85.0 or higher.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/25/2025) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12801484

Structured Resume Review: After it has been determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the first two pages of your resume to rate your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. Scores from all reviewers will be compiled and factored into the overall evaluation. Your final score will reflect how well your qualifications and skills align with the position requirements. Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.

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