Electrical Equipment Repairer (Converter Tech)

Clarification from the agency

This position is only open to current Western Area Power Administration employees on a career or career-conditional competitive service appointment.

As an Electrical Equipment Repairer (Converter Tech), you will:

• Perform preventive and non-preventive maintenance to a variety of simple and complex electrical/electronic equipment systems in five basic categories: high voltage direct current (HVDC) valves and controls, valve cooling systems, monitor and support systems, associated building support systems and high voltage switchyard equipment.
• Perform installation, repair, correction, troubleshooting and modification work as well as preventive maintenance of the equipment.
• Maintain and repair HVDC Valves modules, HVDC Controls, and fiber optic interface components. The HVDC controls include card-based analog, Operational-Amplifier (OP-AMP) based circuits, digital, and microprocessor-based circuits used in valve firing, disturbance suppressor, automatic voltage and reactive controller, valve thermal analog computer, interface relay and mini-simulator.
• Maintain and repair valve cooling system to include work on programmable controllers, various types of sensors, water treatment systems, chemical injection and monitor system pH control system, recorders, motors, fans and pumps.
• Maintain and repair building support systems to include heating, ventilation, air conditioning, security, fire protection, lighting, air compressors, batteries and battery chargers, station service switchgear and transformers, motor control centers and uninterruptible power supplies.
• Monitor and analyze day-to-day HVDC converter operational performance and maintenance problems. Assist the foreman or engineers in developing comprehensive preventative maintenance and testing programs, methods, procedures and safe work practices. Participate in the planning, organization, scheduling, and coordination of work.
• Perform all duties in compliance with DOE directives and WAPA orders, WAPA's Power System Safety rules, and WAPA's safe clearance procedures. Identify safety hazards and unsafe conditions and take immediate action to mitigate or eliminate them. Actively participate in job planning and pre-job safety briefings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

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.
• 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.
• This position requires the ability to operate a government vehicle. The incumbent must be at least 18 years of age, 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.
• The incumbent must wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
• The incumbent must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits.
• The incumbent is subject to the random drug and alcohol testing program established by the Department of Energy.
• The position requires a pre-appointment and annual physical exam at Federal expense.
• The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold.
• This position may be subject to regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements.

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 do journeyman Electrical Equipment Repairer (Converter Tech) independently without more than normal supervision. You must be able to install and commission, or maintain and repair, at least three (3) of the following:

1. High voltage direct current (HVDC) valves and controls;
2. Valve cooling systems;
3. Monitor and support systems;
4. Associated building support systems including HVAC;
5. High voltage switchyard.

Working Conditions: Work is done both indoors and out-of-doors with exposure to hazardous materials and the possibility of electrical shock, falls, bruises, cuts, burns, strains, and inclementside in variable weather. Work can require travel requiring temporary lodging away from duty station.

Physical Effort: Active climbing, lifting, working in strained positions. Work from ladders, scaffolds, and manlift devices. May work from support structures which requires the use of appropriate fall protection equipment. Install and repair equipment in confined and enclosed spaces. Regularly
lift and carry items weighing 50 pounds or more.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications.

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under standard rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office 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 Electrical Drawings
• Knowledge of Electrical Equipment
• Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic)
• Theory and Instruments (Electrical, Electronic) Used in Shop and Trade Practices
• Troubleshooting (Electrical)

All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration.

Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified".

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (08/17/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13029604.

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes:

• Your two (2) page RESUMEshowing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date).
• Current Federal employees: Most recent non-award SF-50 (Standard Form 50 - Notice of Personnel Action). To properly verify status eligibility, your SF-50 must show the following. If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility.
  • Full position title;
  • appointment type;
  • occupational series;
  • pay plan, grade, and step;
  • tenure code; and
  • service computation date (SCD).
  • If your current position SF50 does not indicate you have competitive service status or does not reflect the pay plan and grade of the highest position you have held in the competitive service, in addition to your current SF50, you must provide your previous SF-50s that provide the proof of competitive status and highest grade held on a permanent basis. . If you do not submit an appropriate SF-50, we cannot verify your status eligibility.

If applicable:

• Veterans: DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information.
• Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable(e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition.

Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

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