10 Western Area Power Administration Substation Operator Jobs Hiring Near You

Summary
This position is part of the WAPA-UGP-Upper Great Plains. As an Electrical Engineer (Power System Real Time), you will be responsible for predictive studies for the reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System. These activities include real time reliability studies and mitigation strategies for transmission operations in the respective region.
*This is not a remote position. The selectee must report to the Watertown, SD office.*
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Duties
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As an Electrical Engineer (Power System Real Time) at the full performance level, you will:

• Conduct real-time, current-day, and next-day transmission studies for the Bulk Electric System (BES) and impacted facilities owned by, operated by, or interconnected to the Western Area Power Administration Upper Great Plains Region transmission system. Real-time and immediate operations horizon power system applications include (but are not limited to) event analysis, contingency planning, outage coordination, and performing operational technical studies including the usage of real-time state estimation software.
• Provide technical assistance to real-time operating personnel about the effects proposed switching and operating procedures have on the power system and the individual elements, within the real-time study horizon. Carry primary responsibility for conducting or coordinating studies and mitigation plans required by NERC Standards, Regional Entity Standards and the Reliability Coordinator for a range of expected operating conditions.
• Conduct analysis, problem solving, development, implementation, and reporting of technical findings related to the Western Area Power Administration Upper Great Plains Region transmission system for normal and emergency operating conditions are of primary importance.

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.
• Position is subject to random drug testing.
• You must pass pre-employment drug testing.
• Security clearance and associated requirements- high risk/tier 4.
• Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays and weekends in support of related mission requirements.
• This position requires irregular work schedules and/or shift work. The incumbent may be required to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Must be NERC Certified to qualify at the AD-04 level. If selected at a lower level, promotion to AD-04 is contingent upon obtaining NERC Certification.
• If selected at AD-01, AD-02, or AD-03, NERC Certification is required within 2 years, or prior to being able to sit at the Real Time Engineer desk alone.
• Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 09/08/2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty.

Qualifications
Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement.
In order to be qualified for this position, 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:

1. 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.)
2. 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)
3. 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.
4. 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.
To qualify at the AD-01/GS-07 Grade Level: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0850 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes:

• Knowledge of electrical engineering theories, practices, principles, and techniques.

OR
Education: One (1) year of graduate-level education or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A).
OR
A combination of education and experience to successfully perform the duties of the position.
To qualify at the AD-02/GS-09: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0850 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the AD-01/GS-07 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes:

• Application of electrical engineering theories, practices, principles, and techniques.

OR
Education: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
A combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position.
To qualify at the AD-03/GS-11: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0850 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the AD-02/GS-09 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes:

• Knowledge of general electrical engineering principles and practices applicable to the planning, deployment, and operation of high voltage (100 kV or higher) interconnected electrical power systems comprised of transmission and power generation, including controls, communications, and components involved in the operation and protection of high voltage electric power systems.
• Application of electrical engineering theories, practices, principles, and techniques.

OR
Education: Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related.
OR
A combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position.
To qualify at the AD-04/GS-12:In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0850 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the AD-03/GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes:

• Knowledge of general electrical engineering principles and practices applicable to the planning, deployment, and operation of high voltage (100 kV or higher) interconnected electrical power systems comprised of transmission and power generation, including controls, communications, and components involved in the operation and protection of high voltage electric power systems.
• Application of electrical engineering theories, practices, principles, and techniques.
• Experience with the utilization of power flow and stability software as well as real-time state estimation software.

"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.
Education

• Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 09/09/2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty.

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.
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. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed.
• Promotion Potential: AD-04.
• 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.

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