Clarification from the agency

Bonneville Power Administration employees with competitive status, currently on a career or career-conditional appointment. Apprentices in the last year of the program are encouraged to submit an application to indicate duty locations for which they want to be considered for permanent placement.

As an Electrical- Mechanical Test and Development Craftsman I & II, you will:

• Plan or assist with planning the setup for tests to utilize the equipment and materials which are available in the laboratory. The Craftsman uses his knowledge of the ratings and capabilities of laboratory equipment and additional materials or fixturing to plan an effective setup which will safely meet the required test parameters.
• Set up tests by placing fixtures, moving material and equipment into position, and making up connections.
• Install transducers and monitoring equipment and stringing leads to test instruments.
• Safeguard the test area. Personnel must be warned when tests are being performed which produce a physical or electrical hazard. Craftsmen must know and use appropriate barriers to contain broken parts from ultimate strength tests on items such as insulators and shackles, physically keep personal at safe distances from hazardous parts or use standard BPA practices to warn of electrical hazards such as installing red and white safety rope around electrical impulse and insulation high voltage withstand tests.
• Calibrate test machines and instrument systems.
• Perform tests by applying controlled levels of voltage, current, force, etc to test specimens. Testing requires operation of test equipment to apply forces at the required rate and to the required level to meet the standard or a test plan. Exceeding the test level on high pot tests of cables or mechanical proof loads on tools and bucket trucks could cause damage to the test samples. Strict attention is needed in operating test equipment since many test situations could result to damage to equipment or injury to personnel.
• Collect and record data. Information must be recorded to distinguish what is being tested. This could include manufacturer, model, size, and serial number along with specifics about where the part is/was installed. Written test data must be readable and of the required accuracy. Many instruments and test machines provide digital data, but others will require interpreting needle position or lines on a graph to determine the magnitude to be recorded. Changes in the test specimen during the test are also important results of many tests.
• Trouble shooting, data evaluation and reporting. The craftsmen will use knowledge and experience with previous tests to evaluate whether equipment and the test specimens are performing properly, and that valid data is being obtained. In some projects the craftsmen will be responsible for acquiring accurate data which will be finalized and reported by someone else in the test team. Results from many standardized tests such as insulation quality (Doble power factor) and 60 cycle withstand tests on NCIs for hot line replacement, could be written up by the Craftsman, reported to the final customer, and filed as a permanent record.
• Test tear down. Following a test, the craftsmen will be responsible for disassembling and disposing of test items. Composite insulators, bushings, and other electrical components may need to be tagged to indicate that they have passed successfully, some will need to be sent to the shop to be crated and/or shipped. Insulators, suspension hardware and other parts which have been tested to destruction will be scrapped along with other parts which were damaged in testing or no longer needed. All tools, rigging, transducers, cables, instruments and fixtures will be put away or if they are damaged or malfunctioning, they will be repaired, or steps will be taken to get them repaired.
• Facility Maintenance. Craftsmen are responsible for the ongoing care of the tools and equipment used to perform laboratory tests. This includes periodic maintenance of vehicles and equipment, charging and replacing batteries, and maintaining a safe and efficient work area.

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.

• Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• If exposed to health hazards, have periodic physical examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense. (Employees will work in close proximity to substances, such as acids, solvents, PCB's, etc., that may have effects on health unless prescribed handling procedures are followed.)
• Possess a valid state driver's license. Possess a U.S. Government Motor Vehicle Authorization or obtain within 30 days after the requirement is established and maintain continuously thereafter. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.
• Possess or obtain an Electrical Workers Permit within 30 days after appointment.
• Possess or obtain a standard clearance certification within 1 year after appointment.
• Subject to call for emergency work at any time.
• Be certified on aerial lifts, forklifts, overhead cranes, or other equipment related to the trade if assigned to use or operate.
• Operate motor vehicles, including 1-1/2 ton pickups, sedans, van type trucks, forklifts, aerial man-lifts, tow test trailers similar in size and weight to medium size travel trailers, etc.
• Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.
• This position requires a pre-employment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
• Position is subject to initial pre-employment Drug Testing and random drug testing thereafter.
• Apprentices in the last year of the program are encouraged to submit an application to indicate duty locations for which they want to be considered for permanent placement.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.

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. 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) will be found ineligible.

The screen-out element for this position is: defined performing technical evaluations and determine the acceptability of power system equipment to evaluate new concepts, verify designs, for calibration, for quality checks of production parts, to investigate deterioration or failure of parts during service, or evaluate modifications necessary to return a component to serviceable condition without more than normal supervision. Select the one statement that best describes your level of experience. Experience reflected in this self-rating must be supported in your resume. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

In addition to the screen-out element you will be evaluated on the following Job Elements through your resume and responses to the on-line assessment questionnaire:

• Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability To Use and Maintain Hand Tools (Electrical Work)
• Ability To Use Electrical Drawings
• Knowledge of Electrical Equipment
• Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic)
• Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices
• Trouble shooting (electrical)

If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed primarily in the laboratories at the J.D. Ross Complex, although approximately one-quarter of the work may involve travel to remote sites or substations. Work may be performed in adverse weather conditions. Test equipment is capable of generating voltages up to five million volts, currents up to 120 thousand amps and forces up to 500 thousand pounds. Certain projects may require the employee to work at heights in excess of 90 feet above ground using aerial manlifts or on transmission line structures, or below ground in apparatus, test pits, vaults, etc. Some test sites require walking or driving over uneven terrain but most locations are accessible by mobile equipment. At times, work may be physically demanding. The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to toxic or hazardous substances (i.e., acids, solvents, PCB's, etc.) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk. Proper respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled.

PHYSICAL CONDITIONS:
Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others.

"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 and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred.

How you will be evaluated

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

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 determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your resume and self-assessment to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

You may preview the online assessment questionnaire here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12855070

Selection will be based on skills and competencies, not educational credentials or self-reported experience.

Semi-Annual Rating/Ranking:

Semi-annual rating/ranking will be conducted in February and July for the following craft positions:

• Electrician Foreman I, II, and III (Maintenance and Construction)
• Lineman Foreman I and III
• Chief Substation Operator III

NOTE: Applications for the above positions must be received by no later than 11:59 p.m. (EST) February 8, 2026 to be included in the February 2026 semi-annual rating/ranking process. Bid applications received between February 9, 2026 and June 30, 2026 will be rated/ranked by subject matter expert (SME) panel during the July 2026 semi-annual rating/ranking period. Bid applications received between July 1, 2026 and December 31, 2026 will be rated/ranked by subject matter expert (SME) panel during the January 2027 semi-annual rating/ranking period.

Bid Applications submitted for positions not included in the semi-annual rating/ranking schedule will be rated/ ranked by SME panel only after a manager's request to fill the position is received in BPA's HR Service Center, Recruitment and Placement workgroup, HA-1.

Applications that are rated/ranked must receive a rating of "best qualified" (transmuted score of 80, or higher) to be referred for hiring consideration. Those who received a "best qualified" rating will retain this ranking for up to five (5) years from the date of rating. Applicants must submit a new annual bid list application each year during the 5-year rating period to receive consideration for each year.

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'.