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Electronics Technician

Department of Energy
Southwestern Power Administration
Office of Power Delivery, Division of System Protection

Summary

This position is part of the Southwestern Power Administration. As an Electronics Technician, you plan, organize, design, manage, construct, install, configure, test, troubleshoot, analyze, and maintain highly complex and geographically dispersed communication and electronic systems.

***This position is not a remote position. You will have to physically report to Springfield, MO.***

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
02/11/2026 to 02/24/2026
Salary
$89,508 to - $116,362 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Springfield, MO
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
50% or less - Travel of up to 25%-50% annually is required; with overnight travel of 5-10 days per month on average. This position travels to and lodges at remote locations frequently by motor vehicle or aircraft. This position requires extensive travel in the performance of official duties. As a result, the incumbent is required to obtain, use, and maintain a government travel card for all official travel.
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
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
26-SW-00207-12884173-IMP
Control number
857164700

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to current Department of Energy employees on a career or career-conditional competitive service appointment.

Duties

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As an Electronics Technician you will:

  • Plan, organize, install, test, troubleshoot, analyze, and maintain complex electronic and communication systems which include VHF and UHF radio systems, digital microwave radio systems, power line carrier equipment, local (LAN) and wide (WAN) area networks, intelligent electronic devices, telephone systems, digital transmitters and receivers, remote terminal units (RTU), telemetry, load controls, fiber optic systems, security systems, synchronous optical networking (SONET) systems, and computerized supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA).
  • Develop and maintain testing and maintenance procedures/standards based on best industry practice, experience, North American Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance standards, and specific communication and electronic system requirements.
  • Install, troubleshoot, maintain and repair analog and digital microwave systems as required in scheduled and unscheduled activities.
  • Install, maintain, analyze, troubleshoot, and repair malfunctions in the SCADA equipment, data logging equipment, and power plant load control equipment.
  • Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair fiber SONET system.
  • Act as a Point of Contact (POC) over assigned electronic and communication system area of responsibility.
  • Develop design to implement complex communication and electronic systems.
  • Develop and maintain testing and maintenance procedures/standards.
  • Investigate and conduct research on the application of complex electronic and communication systems.
  • Install, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair analog and digital microwave systems.
  • Install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) system.
  • Manage the voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone systems located in the assigned offices.

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/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service.
  • In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.
  • Position is subject to random drug testing.
  • You must pass pre-employment drug testing.
  • You must pass pre-employment medical examination.
  • Pre-employment physical examination along with drug and alcohol testing are required of the incumbent. Incumbent is subject to future, random drug and alcohol testing. Positive test results may subject the incumbent to dismissal.
  • Security clearance and associated requirements - Moderate Risk.
  • Incumbent is required to possess a valid State driver's license at the time of hire and to maintain the license for the duration of incumbent's employment.
  • Travel of up to 25%-50% annually is required; with overnight travel of 5-10 days per month on average. This position travels to and lodges at remote locations frequently by motor vehicle or aircraft. This position requires extensive travel in the performance of official duties. As a result, the incumbent is required to obtain, use, and maintain a government travel card for all official travel.
  • This position requires callouts in emergency situations at all hours of the day on any day.

Qualifications

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.

For the GS-12 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service. This experience includes all of the following:

  • Applying electronics theory demonstrating skills in following methods and procedures that involve maintaining, troubleshooting, testing, and repairing electronic components and equipment; AND
  • Using and interpreting electrical schematic and wiring diagrams

Time-in-Grade: Current career or career-conditional GS employees of the Federal government, or former career or career-conditional GS employees, who have a break in service of less than one year, are required to meet the time-in-grade restriction of one year of Federal experience at the next lower grade, with few exceptions outlined in 5 CFR 300.603(b). Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to current career or career-conditional federal employees applying for a Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Physical Demands:
The work requires some physical exertion, such as periods of standing, walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces, recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching or similar activities; recurrent lifting of moderately heavy items related to communication test equipment and various enclosures weighing up to 55 pounds. The work may require performance within restricted space of electronic enclosures and duplex switchboards; eye strain from working with small components; and travel fatigue due to long distance and rough access roads to remote substations and radio stations. Travel on rough terrain, high heat, humidity, and freezing rain, and snow may also cause painful physical discomfort.

Work Environment:
The work is performed inside and outside at local and remote substations, switchyards, and radio stations. Exposure to hazards exists when working near high voltage power equipment and test equipment. At remote sights exposure to vermin such as spiders, snakes, scorpions, and wasps could be deadly hazard. Normal working hours are, expected; however, hours may be subject to emergency call out at all times. Technician is required to be on frequent overnight travel.

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.

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

  • 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.
  • Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement.
  • Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.
  • The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive.
  • Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized.

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.

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Structured Resume Review: Subject matter experts (SMEs) will review your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. SMEs will review ONLY the first two (2) pages of your resume. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume).

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the scores provided from the SME resume review 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):

  • Electrical
  • Standards
  • Technology Application
  • Telecommunications

All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified".

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (02/24/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12884173.

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