Duties
- Identification and correction of problems causing mechanical equipment malfunctions, as well as performing periodic and unscheduled mechanical maintenance/repair of equipment and structures common to hydroelectric facilities. Such mechanical equipment includes but is not limited to turbines, generators, governors, pumps, motors, eductors, valves, pipes, penstocks, air compressors, and unit auxiliaries, lubricating oil systems, fire and service water systems, elevators, gates, transformers, spillway and intake hoisting equipment, low and high pressure pneumatic and hydraulic devices and systems, HVAC equipment, sewage and water treatment facilities, cranes and common shop tools/equipment.
- Operates gantry, bridge, mobile cranes and hoists, moving, dismantling, assembling, overhauling and repairing of hydroelectric plant machinery and related equipment. Rigs for overhaul and maintenance of powerplant and dam equipment.
- Operates and maintains lathes, shapers, milling machines, drill presses, surface grinders, and band saws.
- Reads and understands blueprints.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.
Who May Apply:
- Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Competitive)
- Bureau of Reclamation Employees (Non-Competitive)
- Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)
- Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA)
Qualifications
Your application materials must demonstrate sufficient experience and training to perform the duties of a journey level Hydromechanic without more than normal supervision. Qualifications will be determined on the basis of information submitted within your resume and responses to the assessment questions. For information about qualifications for Federal Wage System positions please, visit
OPM.
Minimum qualifications for trades and labor positions are determined by evaluation of job elements. You must meet at least 2 points on the screen-out element(s) and obtain an average of at least 2 points on all of the job elements in order to be considered qualified for this position.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). 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.
You must meet all
Eligibility and Qualification requirements by 09/26/2025 or by the cut-off date for which you wish to be considered.
Education
This position does not allow substituting education for experience.
Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Human Resources (HR) will review resumes and submitted documents, if applicable, to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. HR will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided in the assessment questionnaire. The assessment questionnaire will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Applicants determined best qualified will be referred to the selecting official.
You will be required to complete and submit the appropriate check-sheet Forms and Resources (sharepoint.com). In both the "Duties" sections and "Knowledge Required by the Position" section, applicants will mark those boxes next to the information that they can perform without more than normal supervision. If the check sheet includes additional questions, please answer these in narrative form in the space provided on the check sheet or answer on a separate attachment. The immediate supervisor's signature must be obtained on the form prior to submission to HR. If the supervisor is unable to verify the required qualifications of the applicant, additional review may be required.
You will be further evaluated on the following Job Elements through resume content and your responses to the application questionnaire:
Job Element 1: Ability to do the work of the position without more than normal supervision. (SCREEN-OUT)
Job Element 2: Ability to maintain, repair, install, and troubleshoot equipment.
Job Element 3: Ability to interpret blueprints, drawings, etc.
Job Element 4: Knowledge of technical practices.
Job Element 5: Knowledge of safety and safe clearance practices.
The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12560702
Your answers will be verified against information provided in your resume. Your resume must clearly support the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education, and/or training relevant to this position. You must make a fair and accurate assessment of your qualifications. If a determination is made that you have rated yourself higher than what is apparent in the description of your experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training (or that your resume/application is incomplete), you could be rated ineligible or your score could be lowered.
Required Documents
Please submit the supporting documents outlined below applicable to your claimed eligibility status and the position and grade to which you are applying. Failing to submit required documents will result in non-consideration due to an incomplete application package.
RESUME: You must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences through job duties meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience must include dates of employment including start and end dates (month and year), work schedule (full-time or part-time), and hours worked per week. For more information, click here.
CHECK-SHEETS: Required for ALL candidates (see How You Will be Evaluated).
PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: Please submit 1) a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, and 2) a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act/achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process. If you are a current or former federal employee, a performance appraisal is required. If you do not submit a performance appraisal, or a statement as to why it is not available, you will not be considered for the position. Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: Competitive Service current federal employees eligible for Promotion, Reassignment, etc. You must submit a copy of their SF-50, verifying highest rate of pay and documenting career or career-conditional status in the competitive service (Tenure 1 or 2) for which you are claiming eligibility. Do not submit award SF-50s. FAILURE TO SUBMIT AN SF-50 VERIFYING STATUS WILL RESULT YOU NOT BEING CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION. For more information, click here.
CAREER TRANSITION PROGRAMS: Permanent Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. You must submit a copy of their most recent performance appraisal, proof of eligibility, and most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including selective factors, education and experience requirements) and score at least 85.0 on the assessment questionnaire as established, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry. For more information, click here.
LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: Current or former land management agency appointees. You must submit (1) a copy of your SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, that reflects having initially been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited (temporary/term) appointment; (2) a copy of SF-50(s), Notification of Personnel Action(s), that reflect having served under one (1) or more time-limited (temporary/term) appointments by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of two (2) or more years; and (3) a copy of your Performance Appraisal Plan and/or Supervisor Memorandum that reflects having performed at an acceptable level during each period of service. For more information, click here.
How to Apply
Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 09/26/2025 or by the cut-off date for which you wish to be considered. To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.
Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.
Next steps
Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.
After all application packages have been received, resumes and supporting document(s) will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume, application questionnaire, and other assessment criteria identified in the "How You Will Be Evaluated" section above. Qualified and eligible applicants will be placed on the upcode list which is shared with all Grand Coulee Power Office supervisors. If selected from the upcode list, a suitability and/or security background investigation may be conducted along with any other requirements as listed in the "Requirements" section above. Once you have completed all requirements you may begin the upcode/temporary promotion as described in the "Additional Information" section above. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.