Clarification from the agency

U.S. Citizens, Nationals, or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

An Electrical Engineer, at the full performance level (GS13):

• Directs, prepares, coordinates, and reviews operational planning studies (current day to one year) and reports on power system additions and modifications.
• Assimilates and reviews relevant data related to system disturbances.
• Investigates and provides electrical engineering oversight and expertise in developing operating procedures for constrained path or transmission management.
• Provides technical assistance to real-time operating personnel groups.
• Prepares detailed reports and is an expert technical advisor regarding analyses of power system operations, Balancing Authority (BA) operations, Transmission Operator (TOP) operations associated with Regional facilities operation.
• Applies mathematical theories and engineering concepts using available information from PI data, digital recording relays, metering, and data from other utilities.
• Determines the adequacy of operating resources based on needs as identified by applicable FERC, NERC, or Regional Entity documents.
• Reviews switching and emergency operating procedures as required.
• Responsible for the documentation, organization, mitigation, and coordination of applicable compliance requirements.
• Coordinates issues with compliance personnel to maintain, implement, and/or improve compliance and/or reporting processes regarding regulatory agencies such as FERC, NERC, and Regional Entity.
• Recommends procedures to eliminate or prevent sanctions for non-performance or non-compliance.
• Trains and mentors peers, lower graded engineers, and other applicable parties in the areas of compliance, real time state estimator, and operations support.
• Articulates and communicates to the staff the specific project parameters, problems to be solved, and milestones and deadlines for completion.
• Monitors and reports on status of studies, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that work priorities, deadlines, and quality standards have been met.
• Provides technical assistance to real-time operating personnel about the effects proposed switching and operating procedures may have on the power system and the individual elements.

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.
• 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.
• Security clearance and associated requirements - Moderate.
• 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 Defensive Drivers certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment; this is a Condition of Employment for a GS-11, GS-12 and at the full performance level of the position, GS-13.
• The incumbent may be required to come into the office/field site outside of normal duty hours; this is a Condition of Employment for a GS-11, GS-12 and at the full performance level of the position, GS-13.
• This two-grade interval position provides qualifying work experience for the employee to progressively assume the duties at the full performance level (FPL) as described in the attached position description.
• Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages.

Qualifications

In order to be qualified for this position, you must meet the basic requirement AND minimum qualification requirements for the grade level(s) in which you apply.

BASIC REQUIREMENT:
You must meet one of the following:

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. (You must submit licensure or registration.)
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. (You must submit documentation)
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.
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.)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience for this position is defined as:

• Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering.

• If you have successfully completed of one full year of graduate level education; -OR-
• If you have obtained a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement; -OR-
• If you have a combination of experience and education as described above.

• Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering;
• Analysis of high voltage power systems.

• If you have two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related; -OR-
• If you have a combination of superior academic achievement and one (1) year of appropriate professional experience; -OR-
• If you have a combination of experience and education as described above.

• Preparing operational planning studies and reporting on power system additions and modifications;
• Implementing mandatory reliability standards.

• If you have three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; -OR-
• If you have a combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position.

• Preparing and reviewing operational planning studies and reports on power system additions and modifications;
• Developing, coordinating, and maintaining the network models utilized for steady state and transient analysis of power systems;
• Implementing mandatory reliability standards that pertain to the operation and planning of power systems.

• Preparing and reviewing operational planning studies and reports on power system additions and modifications;
• Developing, coordinating, and maintaining the network models utilized for steady state and transient analysis of power systems;
• Proposing new engineering and/or operating policies, practices, or guidelines related to the reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System;
• Implementing mandatory NERC reliability standards that pertain to the operation and planning of the Bulk Electric System.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); 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.

How you will be evaluated

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

• Compliance
• Electrical Engineering
• Modeling and Simulation
• Technical Competence