Summary
As an Electrical Engineer, you will serve in the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), Division of System Protection and Communications. The purpose of the position is to perform work related primarily to the application of knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering and to serve as a senior electrical engineer.
**This is not a remote position. You will have to physically report to the Springfield, MO location.***
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Duties
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Duties shown are at Full Performance Level (GS13) ...
As an Electrical Engineer, you will:
- Perform engineering design and is responsible for the preparation of plans, specifications, and drawings for original, additional modifications, or temporary construction of substation equipment, protective relay schemes/systems, communication systems, and control systems.
- Perform professional engineering work in system protection, control, and communications planning, design, investigation of power system protective relay operations, protective relaying setting coordination, development and implementation of testing and maintenance of electrical substation protective relay and metering systems, electrical circuits, circuit elements, electrical equipment, power systems, communication systems, and associated phenomena concerned with electrical energy used in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the high-voltage electrical transmission system.
- Provide system level planning, development, implementation, and operational oversight for components within assigned programs/projects.
- Oversee, direct, coordinate, and review the preparation of feasibility studies, cost estimates, conceptual designs, drawings and technical specifications and solicitations involving transmission line and substation outdoor electrical equipment.
- Coordinate and resolve issues affecting assigned projects with support from other technical experts within or outside of assigned organization.
- Provides significant and creative solutions for encountered problems in the assigned purview.
- Develop task order design scopes of work and coordinate the activities of the architectural/engineering (A/E) contractor for projects covering substation equipment, protective relay schemes/systems, communication systems, and control systems.
- Prepare cost estimates of projects for use in budget preparation or for study or contract purposes.
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.
- 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.
- You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
- Security clearance and associated requirements - Moderate Risk.
- The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain the required DOE/SWPA certification to serve as a Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR).
- The incumbent must be 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.
Qualifications
To be found qualified, 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:
- 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.)
- 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)
- 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.
- 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:
For the GS-07: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as:
- Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering.
You may also qualify for the GS-07:
- 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.
For the GS-09: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as:
- Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering;
- Analyzing data to determine selection and arrangement of equipment to be used.
You may also qualify for the GS-09:
- 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.
For the GS-11: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as:
- Preparing operational planning studies and reporting on transmission lines and substations;
- Resolving technical issues related to substation equipment, protective relay schemes/systems, communication systems, and control systems.
You may also qualify for the GS-11:
- 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.
For the GS-12: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as:
- Commissioning, troubleshooting, investigating, and repairing protective relay and control systems;
- Applying North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance standards by monitoring technical compliance and resolving technical differences;
- Managing projects covering substation equipment, protective relay schemes/systems, communication systems, and control systems.
For the GS-13: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as:
- Commissioning, troubleshooting, investigating, and repairing protective relay and control systems;
- Reviewing bid proposals for compliance with technical specifications and making recommendations regarding the technical aspects of a contract award;
- Acting as a subject matter expert (SME) for assigned North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) compliance standards, and preparing documentation as evidence of compliance with NERC standards;
- Managing projects and developing engineering designs to ensure project objectives are achieved within established scope, schedule, budget, and quality requirements.
"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.
Education
This position has a positive education requirement.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.
***Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 6-July-2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty.***
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Additional information
- 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.
- If selection is made at a lower grade, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. How
