Electrical Engineer

Summary

You will serve as a Electrical Engineer with Bureau of Reclamation. This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region, Four Corners Construction Office, Field Engineering Division, located in FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO. Pay will vary based on grade level and/or duty location for which you're selected. First time hires to the Federal government normally start at the step 1 rate.

Duties

• At the full performance level, some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Performs engineering analyses to include performing and coordinating technical planning activities; data collection (including validation and management); design; modeling and data analyses; analyses of site location and/or conditions; troubleshooting electrical equipment and systems; and risk estimation and analyses. Work primarily involves the performance and/or oversight of on-site construction work, including inspection and acceptance of facility or utility construction work performed by a contractor. Provides electrical engineering expertise in the O&M of complex features/facilities. Plans, coordinates, and directs scheduled and emergency (breakdown) maintenance, repair, and modifications. Reviews standards of performance and maintenance techniques, including schedules and types of tests performed; performs specialized diagnostic tests on electrical equipment; and evaluates test data and the corrective measures performed to assure adherence to existing procedures and instructions. Plans, schedules, coordinates, and conducts electrical engineering facility examinations, reviews, and/or inspections which include conducting condition assessments and construction and transfer inspections; identifying and addressing deficiencies relative to design criteria, applicable codes and standards, or state or Federal statutes or regulations; calculating preliminary estimates for repairs; coordinating with internal and external partners; documenting and presenting results; conducting root cause analyses; analyzing unexpected event reports; conducting accident and incident investigations; and identifying future needs for the asset investment such as extraordinary maintenance and rehabilitation. Provides engineering support in connection with regulatory program oversight, policy and rulemaking efforts, review of regulatory compliance issues, and resolution of engineering related issues as they are encountered. Develops, monitors, and manages project plans that outline the scope, schedule, and budget of assigned projects. Provides technical reviews, peer reviews, and/or checking of designs, drawings, engineering analysis, and technical documents (e.g., trip reports, project notes), specifications, and contract correspondence, ensuring documents are accurate and quality assurance processes were followed. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

Qualifications

Qualifications: All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. Minimum Qualifications: To qualify for this position, you must meet the following: Basic Education: In addition to the specialized experience requirements, you must meet at least 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: statics, dynamics; strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); fluid mechanics, hydraulics; thermodynamics; electrical fields and circuits; nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and 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, Engineer in Training1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer by any State, District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. 2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering 2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. 3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in 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. AND Minimum Qualifications for GS-11: To qualify at GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-9 level in Federal Service having demonstrated professional experience performing a minimum of two or more of the following: Developing preliminary and final designs and specifications, cost estimates for new or rehabilitation of electrical equipment and systems water storage, water conveyance structures and/or distribution facilities (e.g., dams, pumping plants, transmission systems, power generation systems, connected electrical facilities, switchyards, substations, water conveyance, treatment, and/or storage systems); Preparing comprehensive electrical design and solving construction problems and other engineering issues; Performing technical review of electrical design analysis, plans and specifications for contract documents, studies, reports, etc. to ensure accuracy, technical feasibility, and compliance with various agencies; OR Designing or preparing technical specifications related to communications networks including optical carriers, local-area networks, mobile radio systems, telephone systems, telemetry systems, fire alarm and security systems and/or analyzing, troubleshooting, testing, evaluating, optimizing, and/or programming control systems (e.g.: PLCs and SCADA) used to operate water facilities. OR Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Combination of Graduate Education and Professional Experience: You may combine specialized experience and education to meet the minimum qualifications. Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade level may be combined with experience. For example, an applicant with 6 months of appropriate experience equivalent to GS-7 (50 percent of the experience requirement for GS-9) and 27 semester hours of appropriate graduate education (50 percent of the education requirement for GS-9, in excess of that required for GS-7) would be qualified for a GS-9 position (assuming that there is no evidence that the attended college or university requires more than 18 semester hours as equivalent to a year of graduate study). Minimum Qualifications for GS-12: To qualify at GS-12, you must possess a Professional Engineering License and one full year of professional experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal Service having demonstrated specialized experience performing a minimum of two or more of the following: Managing or advising on data collection and preliminary and final electrical designs and specifications and cost estimates for new or rehabilitation of electrical equipment and systems related to water structures and/or distribution facilities (e.g., dams, pumping plants, transmission systems, power generation systems, connected electrical facilities, switchyards, substations, water conveyance, treatment, and/or storage systems); Planning/leading complete design projects for electrical equipment and systems at pumping plants, water/wastewater treatment plants, switchyards, industrial plants, dams, involving various auxiliary equipment and systems; Solving design/construction problems, and other engineering issues and performing technical review of electrical design analysis, plans and specifications for contract documents, studies, reports, etc. to ensure accuracy, technical feasibility, and compliance with various agencies; OR Managing, leading, reviewing, designing or preparing technical specifications related to communications networks including optical carriers, local-area networks, mobile radio systems, telephone systems, telemetry systems, fire alarm and security systems and/or analyzing, troubleshooting, testing, evaluating, optimizing, and/or programming control systems (e.g.: PLCs and SCADA) used to operate water facilities.

Requirements

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 https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. Professional Engineering registration is required by Reclamation Policy (GS-12 level only). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. 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.

Education

This position has a mandatory education requirement. You must submit a copy of your transcript(s) to support claimed education. Transcripts must include your name, school name, grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, and date the degree was conferred, if applicable. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Non-submission may result in being rated not qualified for the position. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, but if you are selected for this position and you used your education to qualify, you must provide official transcripts before you begin work. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. For more information on how foreign education is evaluated, visit: https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 09/24/2026 - unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13052344 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.