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Communications and Instrumentation (C&I) Mechanic

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
California-Great Basin Region - Central California Area Office

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Communications and Instrumentation (C&I) Mechanic. You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Folsom, California

Overview

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Accepting applications
Posted this week · Apply by 06/22/26
Due by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 22, 2026
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$76.50 - $76.50 per hour
Pay scale & grade
BB 00
Promotion potential
00
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Financial disclosure required
No
Some jobs require financial disclosure to identify conflicts of interests.
Announcement number
BOR-CGB-26-MP-12978576-AG
Control number
872174900

Duties

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The C&I Mechanic performs a full range of skilled journey level duties in a hydroelectric power plant, pumping plants and related facilities assigned to the Central California Area Office, Water & Power Maintenance Branch, in Folsom, CA. Duties include:

  • Installs maintains, tests, calibrates, aligns, modifies, overhauls, troubleshoots, and repairs a variety of complex electronic and electro-mechanical equipment, optical, and electro-optical such as fixed and mobile voice and data communication equipment, surveillance equipment, generators, power transformers, power circuit breakers, instrument transformers, electronic voltage regulation, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system equipment, power system stabilizers, data logging and control equipment, sound systems, telemeter, flow meter, protective relay, electronic relays, revenue meters, and sophisticated panel board indicate meters and recorders, fiber optic cables, high speed data cable, and uninterruptible power systems.
  • Performs microprocessor based programming; i.e. solid state devices, sonic liquid level devices. Uses various analog and digital test equipment such as ohmmeters, ammeters, voltmeters, watt meter, transistor testers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, frequency meters, logic analyzers, communications test sets, spectrum analyzers, time domain reflectometers, high speed communications test equipment, pc based test equipment.
  • Uses various analog and digital test equipment such as ohmmeters, ammeters, voltmeters, watt meter, transistor testers, oscilloscopes, signal generators, frequency meters, logic analyzers, communications test sets, spectrum analyzers, time domain reflectometers, high speed communications test equipment, pc based test equipment, AC and DC high voltage test equipment, instrument transformers test equipment, VHF and UHF, and microwave radio test equipment.
  • Installs and maintains a variety of radio communications equipment. This includes VHF and UHF Base Stations, mobile radios, microwave radio equipment, radio towers, antenna systems, and telephone equipment.
  • May be required to climb radio towers or structures of varying heights ranging from 30 to 200 feet to perform maintenance on towers and antenna systems.
  • Follows safe work practices and may hold clearances for the Hazardous Energy Control Program; operates a motor vehicle, forklift and manlift.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet minimum experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times as the position requires operation of government vehicles on government and public roads. Failure to maintain a valid State Driver's License at all times will result in removal from the position.
You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.
You may be required to serve an initial probationary period. Continue to the Additional Information section for more information.

Who May Apply:

  • 30% or More Disabled Veterans
  • Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
  • Department of the Interior Employees (Competitive)
  • Department of the Interior Employees (Non-Competitive)
  • Federal Employees (Competitive Transfer)
  • Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Transfer)
  • Former Federal Employees (Competitive Reinstatement)
  • Former Federal Employees (Non-Competitive Reinstatement)
  • Individuals with Disabilities (Schedule A)
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP)
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
  • Military Spouses
  • Miscellaneous Appointing Authorities
  • Pathways Program - Conversion Eligible
  • Peace Corps & AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers
  • Public Lands Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority
  • Special Hiring Authorities
  • Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)
  • Veterans Recruitment Authority (VRA)

Qualifications

Your application materials must demonstrate sufficient experience and training to perform the duties of this position without more than normal supervision. Qualifications will be determined on the basis of information submitted within your resume and responses to the assessment questions. For information about qualifications for Federal Wage System positions please, visit OPM.

Minimum qualifications for trades and labor positions are determined by evaluation of job elements. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements in order to be considered qualified for this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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 Eligibility and Qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors if applicable, by 06/22/2026.

Education

This position does not allow substituting education for experience.

Additional information

Condition of Employment For Probationary Period: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a MODERATE RISK Public Trust position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated Public Trust Suitability Background Investigation (T2S or T2RS or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

This is a bargaining unit position represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245.

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

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.

Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and submitted documents, if applicable, to ensure your meet the basic qualification requirements. HR will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Applicants determined best qualified will be referred to the selecting official.

You will be further evaluated on the following Job Elements through resume content and your responses to the application questionnaire:Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision, Ability to Use Electrical Drawings, Dexterity and Safety, Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc., Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices, and Use of Test Equipment: Electronics

The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12978576

Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

Bureau of Reclamation

The Bureau of Reclamation is a contemporary water management agency best known for constructing dams, powerplants, and canals in the 17 western United States, having constructed more than 600 dams and reservoirs. We are the largest wholesaler of water and the second-largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States.

Our mission is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. We place great emphasis on fulfilling our water delivery obligations, water conservation, water recycling and reuse, and developing partnerships with our customers, states, and Native American Tribes. We also find ways to bring together various interests to address the competing needs for limited water resources.

Our core values are professional excellence, safety, and respect. We are results-oriented. We share a personal commitment to protecting the safety of each other, contractors, customers, as well as the people and communities served by our projects. We embrace a culture of respectfor people through our ethical behavior and with clear, effective communication.

Agency contact information

BOR CA Great Basin Human Resources Office
Phone
916-978-5476
Email
mpjobs@usbr.gov
Address
CCAO
Bureau of Reclamation
7794 Folsom Dam Road
Folsom, CA 95630
US

Visit our careers page

Learn more about what it's like to work at Bureau of Reclamation, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.usbr.gov

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