Electrician (Maintenance)

Company Description

The Bonneville Power Administration is a federal nonprofit wholesale power marketer that sells carbon-free electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to millions of consumers and businesses in eight states. BPA operates three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission grid and funds one of the largest fish and wildlife programs in the world.

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.

HOW TO APPLY: External Application Link(s):

25-BPA-48026-12801886-DE: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/846124800

25-BPA-48026-12801887-MP: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/846125300

Open & Close date: Open: 09/16/2025 Close: 09/25/2025

LOCATION(s) Various Locations (X24) check_ application_

SALARY: $68.44 to - $68.44 per hour

DUTIES:

Job Overview: Electrician (Maintenance)

A successful candidate in the Electrician (Maintenance) position will maintain and repair electrical equipment in Substations. The maintenance aspects include routine inspection, modification, troubleshooting, and repair of facilities.

As an Electrician (Maintenance) you willl:

- Installing and adjusting major electrical equipment. Major equipment items are power transformers and gas, oil, or air-insulated power circuit breakers. Installation and adjustment tasks include erection of equipment by putting components together. Components mounted on transformers include bushings, conservators, radiators, fans, pumps, recording instruments, and load tap changers.

- Maintenance and Repair of major electrical equipment. All major electrical equipment in substations is serviced by Electricians on a regular schedule.

- Control and Relay Panel Assembly. Panels are drilled and instruments, switches, lights, and relays are mounted and wired according to design drawings in a shop setting for installation in Substations in the field.

- Switchboard installation. Prewired relay and control panels are added to switchboards in Substations.

- Communications equipment installation. These tasks involve mounting or adjusting antennas, reflectors, transmitting or receiving devices, emergency power supplies, and other equipment located in microwave or radio stations.

- Steel structure erection. Racks and towers to support electrical equipment in Substations are assembled by Electricians.

- Ground mats, conduit, duct and trench system installation.

- Taking clearances. To safely work on high-voltage equipment, it is necessary to properly deenergize and ground it according to switching procedures in the Accident Prevention Manual.

- Perform switching. At times an Electrician will be required to isolate a piece of equipment for repair or maintenance at dispatcher's discretion

Under the Employee Referral Bonus program, certain BPA employees may be eligible for a monetary award for referring outside candidates for this difficult-to-fill position. The referring employee must complete the form BPA F 33300.01e and email it to careers@bpa.gov by midnight of the closing date of the job posting.

REQUIREMENTS:

Special 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 period.

- This position does not support remote work. You will be required to report physically to the official reporting worksite as specified by the supervisor, but no less than 2 days per pay period.

- Become fully knowledgeable of and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.

- Possess within 1 year after appointment, and maintain continuously thereafter, a First Aid Card and a CPR card.

- Possess a clearance certificate and an electrical worker's permit or obtain them within 1 year of appointment and maintain continuously thereafter.

- Possess a valid state driver's license at the time of employment. Once employed the incumbent will also be required to provide proof of a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with all endorsements that are required to operate equipment from the state of residence within 120 days after appointment. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants.*

- Be certified on aerial lift or other equipment if assigned to use or operate.

- Take First Aid refresher training, when possible.

- Subject to call for emergency work at any time.

- Drive two and four-wheel drive vehicles, which may include towing various equipment trailers.

- Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.

- Those positions at Richland will be required to take annual radiation training and pass a written exam.

- During the first year, new hires will be required to successfully complete the Power System Electrician orientation training.

- This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.

- This position requires a pre-employment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.

- After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.

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.

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. 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) or who do not score at least half of the total points possible across all elements will be found ineligible.

The screen-out element for this position is:

The ability to successfully perform the work of a High Voltage Electrician is defined as having performed the majority of the following duties under normal supervision; maintaining, installing, modifying, calibrating, repairing of; electrical sub-stations, power generation/transmission/distribution equipment and systems at 11,000 to 500,000 volts; climbing, maintaining and repairing electrical sub-stations; transformer banks. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed under the direction of an Electrician Foreman. The degree of supervision depends on the tasks being performed and the working conditions. Less hazardous conditions require minimum supervision. Guidance in the form of operating instructions and the Accident Prevention Manual is available. The Electrician is responsible for good work practices and for completion of tasks in a manner which will insure personal safety, the safety of the crew, and minimize equipment damage or failure and interruption of service. Overtime work to meet the needs of system reliability will be required. Documents work performed, noting existing conditions and any special circumstances. Reports all accidents, including near-misses, to the Foreman. May write reports or memorandums. Occasionally the Electrician directs other Electricians, Electrician Helpers, Oil Filter Operators, and Apprentices. The Electrician is also responsible for providing guidance in the form of training apprentice Electricians and other journeyman Electricians in the skills of the trade. Electricians are accountable for government-owned assigned personal property. They are also responsible for the proper care of tools, vehicles, and other work equipment that they use. Electricians must comply with all relevant aspects of management directed activities such as programs for the handling and disposal of hazardous waste material.

Physical Requirements: Essential Functions (those duties encompassed in a job which are indispensable and comprise the gist or substance of the job):

- Installs and adjusts (construction) major electrical equipment such as power transformer and gas, oil, or air-insulated power circuit breakers; instrument and station service transformers, disconnect and circuit switches, protective devices, static capacitors, batteries and charges.

- Maintains and repairs (maintenance) major electrical equipment in substations. When equipment fails, performs emergency repairs.

- Performs diagnostic testing to inspect parts and equipment.

- Performs work in shops on equipment components including bushings, motors, small power tools, etc. Assembles, installs, and modifies control and relay panels for substations.

- Assembles and erects steel racks and towers to support equipment.

- Installs and changes antennas, reflectors, transmitting or receiving devices, emergency power supplies, and other equipment located in microwave or radio stations.

- Occasionally takes clearances and performs switching to isolate a piece of equipment for repair.

- Conduit and trenches for equipment are installed under the service yard. Cables are pulled through the conduit.

- Completes associated documentation required of the above listed tasks.

- Drives 20-25% of the time in all-weather conditions.

"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.

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):

- 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)

(See Qualification Section for the rest of these competences)

EDUCATION

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

To apply for this position, you provide a complete application package.

(See Required Documents section on application).

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.

To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $68.44 per hour

Benefits:

- 401(k)

- 401(k) matching

- Dental insurance

- Employee assistance program

- Flexible schedule

- Health insurance

- Health savings account

- Life insurance

- Paid time off

- Parental leave

- Professional development assistance

- Retirement plan

- Vision insurance

Education:

- High school or equivalent (Preferred)

License/Certification:

- Electrical License (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

- 75% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person