Requirements
Conditions of Employment
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:
- This position requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment.
- 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.
- This position requires a preemployment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
- 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.
- Obtain a BPA Welder Certificate.
- 100% travel to field sites may be required.
- Subject to call for emergency work outside normal duty hours.
- Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators, welder safety equipment, steel toe boots and hard hats for worker safety.
- Obtain and maintain a valid non-electrical worker's permit within 30 days of hire.
- Obtain and maintain authorized unescorted access to BPA energized and non-energized facilities.
- Possess and maintain a valid First Aid Card. Take First Aid refresher training.
- Be certified on aerial lift equipment or other equipment when assigned to use or operate within 90 days of appointment.
Qualifications
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. This job has a screen-out factors which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on this screen-out element(s) or who do not score at least half of the total points possible across all elements will be found ineligible.
The screen-out element for this position is: Ability to successfully perform the work of a Welder defined as safely performing the majority of the following welding duties: use templates, blueprints and other guides to repair, modify or fabricate metal items and weld metal parts and structures, weld in positions to include flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead; use various heavy machine tools, such as power saws, cut off saws, CNC guided plasma & oxy/fuel cutting machine, drill press, and pipe bending machines without more then normal supervision. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating.
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.
Working Conditions:
- Work is performed in the General Shops at the Ross Complex and at field sites.
- Work may be both indoors and outdoors anywhere in the BPA system, according to the type of work being performed.
- Work at considerable height and on precarious footing during inclement weather.
- Hazards include working around energized, high voltage electrical equipment; climbing on ladders or scaffolding; working around machinery with moving parts; exposure to fumes, smoke, gases, and falling objects.
- The Welder may be required to work at heights up to 150 feet from aerial ladders and boom truck baskets with safety harness.
- The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous materials (i.e., acids, solvents, PCB's, etc.) requiring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk.
- Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil, acid, etc.) or when welding.
Physical Requirements:
- Able to climb in and out of aerial manlift buckets averaging 40" high. May be required to work at heights up to 100 feet from aerial ladders and boom truck baskets.
- Balancing required on narrow and slippery surfaces at heights and in varied weather conditions, as well as on uneven ground.
- Ability to stand an average of 2 hours with a maximum of 5 hours uninterrupted.
- Lifts tools and equipment. Average is 20 pounds.
- Works in cramped, awkward positions while reaching, lifting, bending and using hand and power tools, and positioning pieces.
- Shop and field work requires work with arms overhead or occasionally outstretched for extended periods of time.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement
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.
Education
There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage Grade (WG) positions.
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.
The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified.
Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications.
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 Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading)
- Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
- Dexterity and Safety
- Knowledge of Metals
- Use of Measuring Instruments
Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. CP/CPS veterans are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except professional and scientific positions at GS-9 and higher.
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 scoring 85.0 or higher.
You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/25/2025) of this announcement.
To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12799110
Structured Resume Review: After it has been determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the first two pages of your resume to rate your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. Scores from all reviewers will be compiled and factored into the overall evaluation. Your final score will reflect how well your qualifications and skills align with the position requirements. Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered.
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:
- You must have a login.gov account to sign into USAJOBS: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account.
- To begin the application process in USAJOBS, click the Apply Online button.
- Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all required and supporting documentation.
- You must click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on the announcement closing date.
You may update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by returning to your USAJOBS account, select Update Application:
https://login.usajobs.gov/Account/Login. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To verify the status of your application, during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account; applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each application status means, visit:
https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.
If you need help with login.gov or USAJOBS (e.g., account access, Resume Builder) visit the USAJOBS Help Center:
https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to
If you experience difficulty applying on USAJOBS, after clicking the Apply Online button, or you are experiencing a significant hardship hindering your ability to apply online, the Agency Contact listed in the announcement can assist you during normal business hours. If you receive any system error messages, take screenshots if possible, to aid technical support.
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.
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.