Clarification from the agency

This position is open to current Western Area Power Administration employees on a career or career-conditional competitive service appointment. DOE employees retiring from either the OPM or DOE Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) are not eligible to apply for this announcement. DRP retirement participants are not considered active DOE employees because they have agreed to separate from the agency.

As a High Voltage Electrician (Lineman-Aerial Observer), you will:

• Perform aerial patrol in a helicopter at low-level and at normal cruising altitudes. Inspect high-voltage power lines supported by wood, steel, and other structure types from aircraft, vehicles, or on foot.
• Observe and report on right-of-way issues including encroachments, danger trees, brush, and fire hazards, access roads, soil erosion, and landslides. Locate faults and make inspections of questionable situations.
• Be responsible for observations and accurate reporting of conditions on all patrols. Update and maintain current records of findings. Enter records of observations made and problems encountered into a computer database.
• Comply with prescribed clearance and safety rules and regulations. Follow the safety practices of WAPA flight operations standards and emergency procedures for flight operations.
• Determine lightning damage, deterioration, decay, and other conditions within and adjacent to power line rights-of-way from visual observation and low-level (in-flight) video and still photography. Operate heat-emission detection/infrared devices for transmission line monitoring.
• When not patrolling, work with line maintenance crews using full knowledge of journeyman lineman duties.
• Provide training and guidance to apprentices and others as assigned.

This is not an all inclusive list.

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.
• 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.
• Department of Energy (DOE) employees participating in the OPM or DOE Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) are not eligible to apply for this announcement. DRP participants are not considered active DOE employees because they have agreed to separate from the agency. (Participants who resigned, are no longer DOE employees.
• 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 level.
• Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• 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 Driver's certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment.
• This position requires the incumbent to fly in a helicopter during the performance of assigned duties.
• 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.
• The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR. The CDL must be obtained within 120 days of employment or longer if outside the control of the employee.

Qualifications

Qualifications: You must have journeyman-level ability in the duties of a High Voltage Electrician (Lineman-Aerial Observer). You must meet all the qualification and eligibility requirements for the position by the closing date of the announcement.

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:

• Ability to do the work of a journeyman lineman constructing and maintaining transmission or distribution power lines (69KV or higher) and related equipment independently without greater than normal supervision.

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.

PHYSICAL EFFORT: Work under conditions of high physical demand related to climbing. Frequently required to lift items weighing over 50 pounds in order to install, inspect, and/or repair transmission lines. Climb and work aloft on structures. Work at ground level and in ground trenches where work requires bending, stooping, climbing, and standing for long periods. Coordination of eyes, hands, legs, and body is needed in installing and repairing equipment in confined spaces and on overhead structures.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Work takes place in a helicopter or an office. The incumbent is subject to hazardous materials and extreme weather conditions. Works in close proximity to high voltage lines and equipment. Work requires occasional climbing of transmission structures averaging 65 feet, but up to 500 feet on occasion, and communication towers up to 400 feet. Subject to potential for injury by contact with high voltage lines, broken bones in falls from poles or structures, muscle strains from awkward positions, and cuts and bruises when handling tools and materials. Work may require considerable travel requiring temporary lodging away from duty station.

Position may require accredited nationally recognized crane certification for fixed and swing boom certification. If so, training will be provided at government expense.

Normally works in aircraft, using a helicopter, under low-level flight conditions and in close proximity to energized high voltage transmission lines. Works daily in close contact with the pilot. May work for long periods of time under marginal flight conditions and in emergency situations. Work environment includes high noise levels, emergencies, and critical system conditions. Outage limitations may require that work be done at night and/or under time restraints. System priorities and emergencies may require extended periods of time working outside of normal working hours.

How you will be evaluated

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

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.

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 Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision
• Ability to Use and Maintain Hand Tools (Electrical Work)
• 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 (12/22/2025) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12849593.

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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