Hydroelectric Dam Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Hungry Horse Field Office manages planning, design, testing, operation, and maintenance of critical electro-mechanical systems supporting the hydroelectric powerplant and dam. Responsibilities include emergency and preventive maintenance on generators, transformers, switchgear, pumps, cranes, HVAC, water systems, monitoring and protection equipment, LAN, security, and high-voltage electrical systems up to 230 kV.
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Duties
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This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Regio, Hungry Horse Operations & Maintenance, Hungry Horse, Montana.
At the full performance level (WB-00) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following:
- Locate, troubleshoot, and maintain electrical and solid-state equipment in the hydroelectric generating station, switchyard, dam, and appurtenant structures.
- Install, modify, repair, and test electrical circuits, fiber-optic circuits, system fixtures, switches, switchboards, meters, relays, and transformers including power transformers up to 230 kV.
- Interpret and work from electrical schematics, drawings, diagrams, wiring charts, blueprints, manuals, safe-clearance procedures, and Standing Operating Procedures to perform electrical and mechanical tasks.
- Perform switching operations and follow Bureau switching and safe-clearance lockout tagout (LOTO) procedures.
- Maintain refrigeration units, HVAC systems, cranes (up to 290 tons), elevators (10,000 lb), turbines, pumps, cooling-water systems, lubrication systems, gates and replace modules within electronic systems.
- Design (on a limited basis) and install electrical systems, including conduit, wiring, fixtures, and control devices; plan routing, placement, type, size, and gauge for cabling and wiring.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment.
• Craft employees are required to complete a pre-employment physical for their position. You must maintain physical fitness standards throughout employment.
• You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles.

Physical Demands: May lift and carry up to 50 lbs, and intermittently up to 100 lbs; similar force is often needed for pushing, pulling, turning, and positioning parts, assemblies, equipment, and tools. Heavier items may require team lifts or devices such as jacks, hoists, and cranes. Requires hand-eye coordination for tools and test equipment. Frequent walking, standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, and long periods of sitting may be necessary. May need to use SCBA, air-filtration masks, or other respiratory devices.
Working Conditions: Work occurs indoors and outdoors in mixed weather and on varied terrain, with risks from tools, equipment, heavy objects, and hazardous areas. Exposure may include confined/cramped spaces, heights, energized equipment, asbestos, lead, epoxies, and other hazards. Duties may be performed from ladders, scaffolds, hydraulic lifts, switchyard structures, extreme heights, and occasionally over water. Incumbent must safely operate equipment and vehicles in compliance with all laws. Must maintain a valid State Driver's License and required certifications, report expirations or physical changes affecting competency, and report all accidents per regulations. Position requires obtaining and maintaining certifications such as respirator fit testing, CPR/First Aid, fall protection, defensive driving, lockout/tagout, and Switchman Certification.
*Additional Requirements located under Additional Information*
Qualifications
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-09/17/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement.
To qualify for this position, you must have sufficient knowledge and ability in the following job-related factors:

• Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision (SCREENOUT)
• 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
• Troubleshooting (Electrical)

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. Your resume must support your response to the assessment questionnaire, and if it does not, your application will be marked as not eligible. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. Address your knowledge, skills and/or abilities in the areas shown in the job-related factors.
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 to be considered qualified for this position.
Volunteer Experience: 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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.
Additional information
Requirements Continued:
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.
Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.
If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive.
All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.
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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.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.