High Voltage Electrical Apprentice I (Electrician - Lineman - Substation Operator) Job in Location Negotiable After Selection

Summary

This job is open to

• Recent graduates

  Individuals who have graduated from an accredited educational institute or certificate program within the last 2 years or 6 years for Veterans.

Duties

Electrician Apprentice I, series 2810: A successful candidate in the position of an Electrician Apprentice I will, under direct supervision of a Journeyman Electrician or Electrician Foreman, performs tasks which typically involve installation and adjustment (Construction) or maintenance and repair (Maintenance) of electrical equipment in Substations. The construction tasks include erection of new facilities or removal of old facilities. The maintenance tasks include routine inspection, modification, troubleshooting, and repair of facilities. Equipment serviced may be electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, and/or electronic.
Available duty locations: Snohomish, WA; Kent, WA; Lewiston, ID; The Dalles, OR; Spokane, WA; Olympia, WA; Umatilla, OR; Pasco, WA; Keizer, OR; Redmond, OR; Goshen, OR; Malin, OR.

Lineman Apprentice I, series 2810: A successful candidate in the position of Lineman Apprentice I will, under direct supervision of a Journeyman Lineman or Lineman Foreman, be trained to maintain and construct high voltage transmission lines throughout the Northwest. Lineman Apprentices will be trained to perform this work on wood poles and steel tower lines through 500kV alternating current (AC) and l000kV direct current (DC).
Available duty locations: Spokane, WA; Ellensburg, WA; Redmond, OR; Olympia, WA; Chehalis, WA; Kalispell, MT; Grand Coulee, WA; North Bend, OR.

Substation Operator Apprentice I, series 5407:
A successful candidate in the position of Substation Operator Apprentice I will, under direct supervision of a journeyman Substation Operator or another journeyman Electrical Worker, operate high voltage electrical equipment in electrical power transmission system substations and on transmission lines. Specific tasks vary with the type of substation to be operated.
Available duty locations: Kent, WA; Longview, WA; Olympia, WA; Bremerton, WA; Pasco, WA; Richland, WA; Snohomish, WA; Custer, WA; Spokane, WA; Clarkston, WA; Vancouver, WA; Kalispell, MT; Goldcreek, MT; Goshen, OR; Redmond, OR; Keizer, OR The Dalles, OR.

The job announcement covers multiple series.

Satisfactory completion of all aspects of each step including the correspondence course and classroom instruction is mandatory for advancement to the next step. Failure to meet program requirements contained in the Standard of Apprenticeship will result in removal from the Apprenticeship program.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Electrician Apprentice- Must be able to climb and work at various heights, averaging 40 feet, rarely to 100 feet, such as on steel framework, platforms, ladders and other aerial equipment adjacent to high-voltage equipment. Requires good balance to climb ladders and structures (e.g., transformers) and perform repair duties and hang grounds. Good balance required on narrow and slippery surfaces at heights in varied weather conditions, and on uneven terrain. Operate trucks and equipment. Ability to stand an average of 2 hours, with a maximum of 3-4 hours uninterrupted. Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. Work in cramped, awkward positions while in buckets, manholes or confined spaces. Frequent kneeling to access and test equipment and wire.
• Lineman Apprentice- Must be able to climb poles (average 65 feet, maximum 110 feet) and towers (average 100 feet, maximum 535 feet), in all weather conditions; may average 4-6 climbs per day (more when inspecting lines and during Apprenticeship program). Operate trucks, heavy equipment, and specialized line/utility equipment. Ability to stand for extended uninterrupted periods of time on steep and uneven terrain while using hooks, ladders, buckets, or on poles and towers performing repairs. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Substation Operator Apprentice- Must be able to climb and work at various heights averaging 10 feet, rarely up to 60 feet, such as on platforms, ladders and stairs adjacent to high-voltage equipment. Requires good balance to climb ladders and stairs and perform repair duties while switching and changing fuses and walk on uneven surfaces. Operate motor vehicles. Ability to raise, lower and maneuver up to 30 pounds utilizing a pole 20 feet or more in length.

The Apprentice can expect to be in a travel status approximately 25- 50% of the time to complete some of the work processes and training. The Apprentice will be paid for travel and per diem expenses, in accordance with applicable travel regulations, for expenses incurred in connection with mandatory training, including training on scheduled days off. The cost of tuition, books, and related materials will be paid by BPA.

Next Apprentice class will start February 8th, 2026.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• Reside in within one (1) hour or 90 minutes for Grand Coulee, WA of commuting time under normal weather and road conditions, to the duty station headquarters.
• Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual.
• Obtain a First Aid and CPR Card within the first month of employment and continuously thereafter.
• Subject to call outs for emergency work at any time.
• Apprentices may be selected for and relocated to their first assigned duty station during the last 12-months of the program.
• Position requires a pre-employment medical exam, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position. Subject to periodic physical examinations.
• Maintain a valid state driver's license. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants and can be cause for removal from the program.
• Position may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year.
• May be required to apply pesticides and obtain a pesticide applicator's license.
• Wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety.
• Become certified on aerial lift equipment or other equipment if assigned.
• Obtain a valid commercial drivers' license (CDL) with all endorsements required for operation of equipment within the first year of employment and maintain continuously thereafter. (Lineman/ Electrician)
• Possess a Substation Entry Permit within the one-year of employment and maintain it thereafter.
• Occasionally, fly in helicopters or fixed wing aircrafts in the performance of duties. (Lineman)
• Participate in all training activities such as training related to hazardous waste handling, oil spill containment and cleanup, and others.
• Obtain certification as a flag person.
• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• The positions at Ashe (Richland, WA) require unescorted access to a nuclear facility under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
• Those positions at Ashe (Richland, WA) will be required to take annual radiation training and pass a written exam.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the announcement closing date to receive consideration.

The application process is as follows:

1. You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account.
2. To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
3. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
4. You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. The status of your application will be updated in USAJOBS as it is evaluated.

Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.

Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments.

To be considered for the position, you must meet all qualifications, including meeting or exceeding the cut score on the required assessments.

You can check the status by logging into USAJOBS. You may also sign up to receive automatic emails anytime the status of your application changes by logging into your USAJobs Account and editing the Notification Settings.

You will be contacted directly if an interview is required.

Please check that your USAJOBS profile contact information is current and correct each time you apply to a job--this will ensure we are able to contact you as quickly as possible.

In addition to changing your status online, we will send you e-mail notifications at each major step in the process, to include: application received, eligible or not eligible, referred or not referred, selected or not selected.