Interdisciplinary Civil Engineer (Construction Management)/Electrical Engineer/Electronics Engineer

Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status or other eligibility; Former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP/ICTAP eligibles; Veterans with VOW, VEOA, or 30% disability; Military Spouses; Individuals with Disabilities Schedule A; Peace Corps, Vista (AmeriCorps) eligibles; OPM interchange agreement or other special appointing authority.

Powering the Pacific Northwest: Lead the Modernization of Our High-Voltage Grid as a Senior Construction Engineering Specialist

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) delivers clean, reliable, and sustainable hydropower and transmission services to millions of people across the Pacific Northwest. As we modernize and expand our massive high-voltage electrical transmission system, we need visionary technical leaders. In this critical, interdisciplinary GS-13 engineering role (Civil, Electrical, or Electronics Engineering), you will not just oversee construction-you will shape the future of our region's energy infrastructure. Serving as the primary technical authority, you will manage major, complex grid modernization and construction projects from inception to energization, ensuring the safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of our regional power system.

As an Interdisciplinary Civil Engineer (Construction Management)/Electrical Engineer/Electronics Engineer you will:

1. Serve as the Lead Technical and Construction Consultant Act as the premier engineering authority across internal departments, external public agencies, utility partners, and the public. You will guide complex high-voltage grid initiatives through high-level collaboration, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on project expectations, safety, and execution strategies.

2. Drive Project Feasibility and Risk Management Direct comprehensive front-end project planning, including cost estimates, construction timelines, power outage coordination, environmental protections, and land rights. You will evaluate engineering designs for risk, practical constructability, and operational efficiency, resolving conflicts before ground is even broken.

3. Direct and Coordinate High-Performing Field Teams Lead and inspire diverse technical teams in the field. You will align the efforts of resident engineers, quality assurance inspectors, safety personnel, and specialized testing/commissioning engineers to ensure work is executed safely and in strict accordance with engineering designs.

4. Shape Strategic Contracting and Resource Allocation Develop and execute tailored contracting strategies that maximize the use of public funds. You will assess the capabilities of external construction firms to match complex grid projects with the best-fit industry partners, driving high efficiency and value.

5. Partner with Contracting Officers on Major Financial Decisions Serve as the technical anchor for multimillion-dollar construction agreements. You will evaluate competitive bids, negotiate complex contract modifications, and recommend milestone payments, ensuring technical requirements translate seamlessly into contract execution.

6. Enforce Rigorous Quality and Field Compliance Conduct active on-site field evaluations to monitor contractor performance. You maintain the ultimate authority to halt, reject, or correct non-conforming construction, ensuring our high-voltage transmission lines, substations, and fiber-optic networks meet uncompromising quality standards.

7. Resolve Multi-Disciplinary and Unforeseen Engineering Challenges Spearhead the resolution of unexpected field conditions, sudden weather challenges, and design-versus-construction conflicts. You will use engineering ingenuity to navigate highly complex, multi-phase projects extending beyond a single specialty area, keeping schedules on track.

8. Establish Long-Term Standards and Best Practices Drive agency-wide excellence by standardizing construction administration specifications, developing advanced training modules, and capturing lessons learned. Your expertise will elevate the standard of engineering practice and continuous improvement across the entire organization.

Conditions of employment

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration.

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Key Requirements:

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

Conditions of Employment:

• Selectee will be required to complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually.
• This position requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment.
• Subject to emergency call outs. Employees are subject to having their regular work day extended or being contacted outside of normal working hours when there is an emergency or particularly adverse situation.
• Frequent travel required.
• After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.
• A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
• Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

-OR-

B. Combination of Education and Experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional Registration or Licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. -OR-
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.-OR-
3. Specified Academic Courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.-OR-
4. Related Curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

For more information on how to meet the Basic Requirements please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [GS-12] in the Federal service.

Specialized experience for this position is defined as: Using the techniques, principles, and policies of project management or project engineering to 1) plan, direct, and coordinate activities utilizing broad professional knowledge of diverse engineering concepts and methods; 2) preparing proposed project plans, milestones, schedules, and budgets; and 3) demonstrating project management or project engineering experience in one or more of the following: distribution or transmission line construction, substation construction, utility construction, heavy-industrial construction, or facility construction is required.

"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.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the eligibility and qualification requirements above. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.

Merit Promotion & VEOA Procedures: If you are minimally qualified for this job, you will be assessed and evaluated to determine if you are a best qualified candidate. Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements and current employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

• General Engineering
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Oral Communication
• Partnering
• Planning and Evaluating
• Project Management
• Technical Competence
• Technical Competence
• Written Communication

Non-competitive Procedures: If you are applying under a non-competitive or special hiring authority, you will still be required to answer the assessment questions. However, you will not be evaluated against the rating and ranking criteria.
Your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine if you are minimally qualified for this job. Veterans' Preference will be applied when required by the hiring authority (e.g., VRA, Schedule A).

All qualified Non-competitive applicants and the best qualified Merit Promotion and VEOA 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", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date ( 10/10/2026) of this announcement.

To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13079685.

A Multiple Hurdle Assessment Approach is being used to evaluate candidates:

Hurdle 1: Job Knowledge Test
In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires a Job Knowledge assessment. Cut scores are established based on the minimum proficiency required for this position's series and grade. You must meet or exceed the cut score to advance. If you score below the cut score or fail to complete the test, you will not be considered further.

Hurdle 2: Structured Interview
Candidates who pass the first hurdle will be contacted by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to schedule an interview. All candidates will be asked the same pre-determined competency questions, scored on a standardized rating scale. Completing the interview is required; failing to participate will remove you from consideration.

Your final rating will be determined using: Structured Interview Only: The job knowledge test will serve solely as a qualifying hurdle to advance, and only your structured interview score will determine your final rating.

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 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).
• Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume.
• Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements.

Submit one or more of the following to support your eligibility(s) to apply to this job announcement:

• SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" (current/former federal employees): Most recent Promotion, Within Rate Increase (WRI/WGI), or Appointment/Conversion SF-50 or Notification of Personnel Action showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held.
• 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.
• Individuals with Disabilities: Schedule A letter from a physician, local, state or federal rehabilitation office citing your eligibility under 5 CFR 213.3102 (u). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Certain Military Spouses: Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders authorizing you to accompany the Military member to the new duty permanent station; OR verification of the member's 100% disability (VA Letter); and/or verification of the member's death while on active duty (DD-1300 and Death Certificate) AND verification of the marriage to the service member (i.e., a marriage license or other legal documentation verifying marriage). For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center.
• Other non-competitive or special appointing authorities: provide documentation which supports your eligibility.
• 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.

If selected for the position you MUST submit: A copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation and incentive awards, you received in the last 5 years. The assigned HR Specialist will verify review this documentation to ensure selectee has at least a satisfactory performance rating before setting the entrance on duty date. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, you will be asked to submit a statement as to why it is not available.

Next steps