Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Foreman II)

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 Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Foreman II), you will:

• Maintains, modifies, installs, repairs, programs, and tests a variety of simple to complex electronic equipment used in communication, computers and network equipment, and supervisory control systems.
• Performs work on the communications equipment used for power system operation and control, relaying, data logging, and indication. The equipment includes both fixed and mobile digital VHF, UHF, microwave radio and fiber optic communication systems, voice and data communications, VoIP telephony systems, digital cross-connect equipment, communication alarm and network management equipment, powerline carrier and tone equipment, digital multiplexers, and packet-based IP switches and routers.
• Work on other electronic equipment such as physical security and video surveillance equipment, antenna systems, programmable logic controllers using digital and analog 1/0 for system protection communications. Maintains auxiliary generators, transfer switches, storage batteries, battery chargers, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), HV AC and propane fuel systems.
• Installs, maintains, troubleshoots and repairs malfunctions in supervisory control and data acquisition equipment and analog and digital telemetering equipment. Downloads and uploads firmware and database configurations, identifies software errors, and makes corrections to software databases. Coordinates the installation of new SCADA databases. Completes testing and commissioning with dispatch operations in accordance with accepted test plan and procedures.
• Installs, aligns, tests, troubleshoots, performs scheduled maintenance on SCADA master equipment, VoIP telephony services, digital processors, data monitoring equipment, communication alarming equipment, large scale integration video equipment, voice and data logging equipment, data storage systems, UPS and non-UPS power equipment, CCTV equipment, paging and notification systems, intertie monitoring equipment, and other systems as assigned which directly support local Control Center functions.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).
• Position is subject to random drug testing.
• You must pass pre-employment drug testing.
• You must pass pre-employment medical examination.
• Security clearance and associated requirements- Moderate Risk.
• 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.
• 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 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.
• This position requires the incumbent to climb communication towers up to 400 feet tall.
• This position requires a climbing weight not to exceed 310 pounds with all required gear and personal weight without gear not to exceed 280 pounds.
• See Additional Information for more requirements.

Qualifications

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy.

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.

The screen-out element for this position is below. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating:

• Completed a 4-year apprentice program in a related craft; OR
• Employment as a Western journeyman in the craft occupations (i.e. in the "WB" pay plan); OR
• Hold, or have held, the journeyman level (i.e., a level achieved by at least 4 years of training) in a related craft.

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. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone."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.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is done both indoors and outside in variable weather conditions. Work often requires much driving, some in rugged isolated areas requiring four-wheel drive, often alone. Work can require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from duty station. May be required to travel in a fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, snow mobile, or snow cat to work sites.

PHYSICAL EFFORT: Work is indoors; however, outdoor activities are frequently encountered. May lift and carry loads over 50 pounds, often in outdoor environments that pose difficult terrain issues. May work in close, restricted quarters. Standing, bending, stooping for long periods of time may be required. May be required to hike, climb, or use other methods to get to remote equipment sites as local terrain and climate conditions require. Must be able to climb communication towers up to 400 feet or as required.

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 Category 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.

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 Lead Or Supervise
• Ingenuity (Ability to Suggest and Apply New Methods)
• Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, Repair, etc.

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 (09/15/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13050575.

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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