Bureau of Reclamation
Electrical Engineer
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Summary
All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/27/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. In order to qualify for this position you must possess both the Basic Requirement and Minimum Qualification. Basic Requirement: Basic Requirements: 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 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:-- 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. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.- 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.- 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.- 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.) In addition to meeting the educational requirements above, your resume must clearly reflect ALL of the experience (or education for the GS-11) listed below. You must be clear and concise in describing your experience - HR will not make assumptions. Specialized Experience for GS-11: To qualify at GS-11, you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to at least the GS-9 level in Federal Service having demonstrated professional experience performing a minimum of two or more of the following: Developing preliminary and final designs and specifications, cost estimates for new or rehabilitation of electrical equipment and systems water storage, water conveyance structures and/or distribution facilities (e.g., dams, pumping plants, transmission systems, power generation systems, connected electrical facilities, switchyards, substations, water conveyance, treatment, and/or storage systems); Preparing comprehensive electrical design and solving construction problems and other engineering issues; Performing technical review of electrical design analysis, plans and specifications for contract documents, studies, reports, etc. to ensure accuracy, technical feasibility, and compliance with various agencies; OR Designing or preparing technical specifications related to communications networks including optical carriers, local-area networks, mobile radio systems, telephone systems, telemetry systems, fire alarm and security systems and/or analyzing, troubleshooting, testing, evaluating, optimizing, and/or programming control systems (e.g.: PLCs and SCADA) used to operate water facilities. OR Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. OR Combination of Graduate Education and Professional Experience: A combination of education and experience as described in 1 and 2 above which together equals 100% of the requirement Specialized Experience for GS-12: To qualify at GS-12, you must possess one full year of professional experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in Federal Service having demonstrated specialized experience performing a minimum of two or more of the following: Managing or advising on data collection and preliminary and final electrical designs and specifications and cost estimates for new or rehabilitation of electrical equipment and systems related to water structures and/or distribution facilities (e.g., dams, pumping plants, transmission systems, power generation systems, connected electrical facilities, switchyards, substations, water conveyance, treatment, and/or storage systems); Planning/leading complete design projects for electrical equipment and systems at pumping plants, water/wastewater treatment plants, switchyards, industrial plants, dams, involving various auxiliary equipment and systems; Solving design/construction problems, and other engineering issues and performing technical review of electrical design analysis, plans and specifications for contract documents, studies, reports, etc. to ensure accuracy, technical feasibility, and compliance with various agencies; OR Managing, leading, reviewing, designing or preparing technical specifications related to communications networks including optical carriers, local-area networks, mobile radio systems, telephone systems, telemetry systems, fire alarm and security systems and/or analyzing, troubleshooting, testing, evaluating, optimizing, and/or programming control systems (e.g.: PLCs and SCADA) used to operate water facilities. Volunteer Experience: 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. **QUALIFICATIONS CONTIUED IN EDUCATION SECTION**
Major Duties
At the full performance level, some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Performs engineering analyses to include performing and coordinating technical planning activities; data collection (including validation and management); design; modeling and data analyses; analyses of site location and/or conditions; troubleshooting electrical equipment and systems; and risk estimation and analyses. Provides electrical engineering support for the Yuma Desalting Plant (YDP) electrical distribution, instrumentation, and industrial control system (ICS), including sustaining, troubleshooting, and improving the plant's distributed control system (DCS), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), and data historians. Coordinates operational changes, planned outages, and instrumentation calibrations at YDP with plant operations and maintenance personnel and vendors; documents changes in control narratives and configuration baselines. Performs configuration management and quality assurance for ICS/DCS software and firmware updates in accordance with agency standards and YAO procedures. Supports integration and reliability of control networks and field control units used to monitor and control desalting and water-quality processes at YDP and the Water Quality Improvement Center (WQIC) research facility at the Yuma Area Office. Provides technical oversight of on-site construction and/or operations and maintenance-related work, including inspection and acceptance of facility or utility construction work performed by a contractor. Provides electrical engineering expertise in the O&M of complex features/facilities. Plans, coordinates, and directs scheduled and emergency (breakdown) maintenance, repair, and modifications. Reviews standards of performance and maintenance techniques, including schedules and types of tests performed; performs specialized diagnostic tests on electrical equipment; and evaluates test data and the corrective measures performed to assure adherence to existing procedures and instructions. Plans, schedules, coordinates, and conducts electrical engineering facility examinations, reviews, and/or inspections which include conducting condition assessments and construction and transfer inspections; identifying and addressing deficiencies relative to design criteria, applicable codes and standards, or state or Federal statutes or regulations; calculating preliminary estimates for repairs;coordinating with internal and external partners; documenting and presenting results; conducting root cause analyses; analyzing unexpected event reports; conducting accident and incident investigations; and identifying future needs for the asset investment such as extraordinary maintenance and rehabilitation. Provides engineering support in connection with regulatory program oversight, policy and rulemaking efforts, review of regulatory compliance issues, and resolution of engineering related issues as they are encountered. Develops, monitors, and manages project plans that outline the scope, schedule, and budget of assigned projects. Provides technical reviews, peer reviews, and/or checking of designs, drawings, engineering analysis, and technical documents (e.g., trip reports, project notes), specifications, and contract correspondence, ensuring documents are accurate and quality assurance processes were followed. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.
Requirements
Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/. Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may be required to serve a 1-year probation to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. *Additional Requirements located under qualifications*
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) -10/27/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates in month-year format (include month/day/year format if needed for 52 weeks of experience), and indicate hours worked per week (or full-time). Your resume must clearly show how long you have held each grade/rank. Resumes must not exceed 2 single-sided pages and resumes longer than 2 pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the specialized experience requirements. Resume Builder: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include Complete All Required Assessment(s). Performance Appraisals and Awards: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor dated within the past 18 months. If unavailable, a written explanation is required (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level). Performance awards dated within the past 5 years may also be submitted for due weight consideration. Copy of your driver's license All College Transcript(s), if qualifying based on education. Eligibility Documentation: Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year. Do not submit award SF-50s. Veterans Preference Documentation: VEOA must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) as listed on the SF15. If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15. You may request a copy of the VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA): you must submit ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH Competitive time-limited appointment (block 34, code 1); AND Documentation of satisfactory performance for each period of temporary employment claimed, such as, performance evaluations, memorandum of record, whereas the supervisor(s) documented an acceptable performance level for a specified rating/employment period. Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including 1) copy of the agency notice, e.g., RIF Separation Notice, Notice of Proposed Removal, etc.; 2) SF-50s (Notifications of Personnel Action) showing career/conditional tenure competitive status, promotion potential and duty location; and 3) your most recent performance appraisal. To exercise selection priority, displaced or surplus Federal employees must be well qualified. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL). Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 10/27/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13078973 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.