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Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Meter & Relay) (Journeyman/CIT)

Department of Energy
Western Area Power Administration
Desert Southwest; Rocky Mountain; Sierra Nevada; Upper Great Plains Regions, Maintenance

Summary

This position is part of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). As an Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Meter & Relay) (Journeyman/CIT), you will be responsible for the maintenance, repair, and programming of complex electrical and electronic equipment within power system substations.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Location
Many vacancies in the following locations:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$59.43 - $90.48 per hour

Total salary varies depending on location of position

Pay scale & grade
WB 00
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
75% or less - Overnight Travel of 25-75% annually is required.
Appointment type
Permanent
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Represented by a union
Yes
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Other
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
26-WJ-01212-13050371-DE
Control number
884216700

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Duties

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[Be concise. Avoid Federal jargon. Write one duty per bullet. Do not list minor duties (limit to 6-8 major duties). Use plain language.]

As an Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Meter & Relay) (Journeyman/CIT), you will:

  • Maintain, repair, modify, program, install and commission power system substation protection control, monitoring and metering equipment.
  • Maintain, repair, install, program, and test polyphase revenue metering equipment, including electronic and microprocessor-based kilowatt-hour meters, digital demand recorders, panel meters, transducers, and instrument transformers.
  • Maintain, repair, install, program, and test equipment used in controlling substation equipment. This includes human/machine interfaces (HMI), and communication processors.
  • Maintain, repair, install, program, and test protective relay equipment including current, voltage, differential, reclosing, timing, auxiliary, ground detection, and complex impedance relays of the electromechanical, electronic and microprocessor types. Develop software test routines for protective relays. Verify protective relay, transfer trip, and communication settings.

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.
  • 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.
  • A Service Agreement of up to 2 years is required for this position.
  • The incumbent must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
  • The incumbent must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits.
  • The incumbent is subject to the random drug and alcohol testing program established by the Department of Energy.
  • The position requires a pre-appointment and annual physical exam at Federal expense.
  • The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
  • This position may be subject to regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements.
  • This position may require the incumbent to occasionally fly in a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter during the performance of assigned duties.

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. 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.

The screen-out element for this position is below. Failure to meet this screen out element will result in an ineligible rating:

  • Ability to do the work of a Meter and Relay Craftsman independently without greater than normal supervision (Install and commission, or maintain and repair, protective relay equipment and/or polyphase revenue metering equipment associated with power system distribution or transmission systems.)
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.

"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.

Working Conditions: Work is done both indoors and outside in variable weather conditions. Work often requires considerable driving, some in rugged isolated areas requiring four-wheel drive, often alone. Work can require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from duty station. May be required to travel in a fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, snow mobile, or snow cat to work sites.

Physical Effort: May lift and carry loads over 50 pounds, often in outdoor environments that pose difficult terrain issues. May work in close, restricted quarters. Standing, bending, stooping for long periods of time may be required. May be required to hike, climb, or use other methods to get to remote equipment sites as local terrain and climate conditions require.

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

  • This open and continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants.
    • Applications received by Sep 24 2026, will be considered for the first referral.
    • Applications received on/after Sep 25, 2026, but by Oct 24, 2026, will be considered for the second referral.
    • Applications received on/after Oct 25, 2026, buy by Nov 23, 2026 will be considered for the third referral.
    • Applications received on/after Nov 24, 2026, but by Dec 23, 2026, will be considered for the fourth referral.
    • Applications received after Dec 24, 2026, but by Jan 23, 2027, will be considered for the fifth referral.
    • Applications received after Jan 24, 2027, but by Feb 23, 2027, will be considered for the sixth referral.
    • ?Applications received after Feb 24, 2027, but by March 10, 2027, will be considered for the final referral.
  • 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.
  • Upon reporting, and annually thereafter, the selectee may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification. These certifications may be subject to public disclosure.
  • The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a recruitment or 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.
  • This position may be eligible for creditable service towards annual leave. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. DOE may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
  • Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service.
  • Salary Ranges:
    • Arizona Duty Locations: $64.74 - $71.93
    • Colorado Duty Locations: $63.06 - $70.07
    • Nevada & California Duty Locations: $81.43 - $90.48
    • South Dakota Duty Locations: $59.43 - $66.04
    • California Duty Locations: $81.43 - $90.48

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, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed ahead of non-preference eligibles with the same score. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are listed at the top of the certificate in the order of their ratings unless the job is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or above (or equivalent).

Category Rating Procedure: You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the application process is complete, your resume, supporting documentation, and questionnaire/assessment responses will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the rating assessment(s) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three predefined quality categories. These categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified.

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. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are placed at the top of the highest category.

Simultaneous Listing: Candidates may be referred simultaneously on multiple certificates for which they are interested, eligible, and within reach.

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 Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
  • Ingenuity (Ability To Suggest and Apply New Methods)
  • Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.
  • Theory of Electronics
  • Trouble shooting (Electronic Equipment)
  • Use of Test Equipment: Electronics


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 (03/10/2027) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13050371.

Western Area Power Administration


WAPA
Join the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Team - Discover Your Next Adventure!

At WAPA, we do more than keep the lights on. As part of the Department of Energy, we are a collective of innovators and problem-solvers dedicated to reliable, cost-based federal hydroelectric power.

Why WAPA?

We provide reliable and cost-effective hydropower and transmission services, operating across 15 states with over 17,000 miles of transmission lines. Our mission is to ensure that 40 million people have access to power. We lead in renewable resources, energy efficiency, and advanced technology with our strategic plan, Power Forward 2030. Our priority is your career growth and development, with comprehensive training and professional opportunities in a supportive environment. Enjoy competitive salaries, a robust retirement plan, health benefits, flexible schedules, and a work-life balance that values your well-being.

Power Your Career with WAPA

Ready to be part of our dynamic team? Apply to our current openings and take the first step towards a rewarding career that empowers both the West and your future.

Your skills. Our legacy. A shared Future. Are you in?

Agency contact information

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