Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer

Department: Department of Energy

Location(s): Loveland, Colorado

Salary Range: $71846 - $160638 Per Year

Job Summary: This position is part of the WAPA-RMR-Rocky Mountain Region. As an Electrical Engineer, you will be responsible for conducting professional engineering studies related to power systems operations and/or transmission planning. ***This is not a remote position. You are required to physically report to the Loveland, CO office.***

Major Duties:

• An Electrical Engineer, at the full performance level (GS13): Directs, prepares, coordinates, and reviews operational planning studies (current day to one year) and reports on power system additions and modifications. Assimilates and reviews relevant data related to system disturbances. Investigates and provides electrical engineering oversight and expertise in developing operating procedures for constrained path or transmission management. Provides technical assistance to real-time operating personnel groups. Prepares detailed reports and is an expert technical advisor regarding analyses of power system operations, Balancing Authority (BA) operations, Transmission Operator (TOP) operations associated with Regional facilities operation. Applies mathematical theories and engineering concepts using available information from PI data, digital recording relays, metering, and data from other utilities. Determines the adequacy of operating resources based on needs as identified by applicable FERC, NERC, or Regional Entity documents. Reviews switching and emergency operating procedures as required. Responsible for the documentation, organization, mitigation, and coordination of applicable compliance requirements. Coordinates issues with compliance personnel to maintain, implement, and/or improve compliance and/or reporting processes regarding regulatory agencies such as FERC, NERC, and Regional Entity. Recommends procedures to eliminate or prevent sanctions for non-performance or non-compliance. Trains and mentors peers, lower graded engineers, and other applicable parties in the areas of compliance, real time state estimator, and operations support. Articulates and communicates to the staff the specific project parameters, problems to be solved, and milestones and deadlines for completion. Monitors and reports on status of studies, checking on work in progress and reviewing completed work to see that work priorities, deadlines, and quality standards have been met. Provides technical assistance to real-time operating personnel about the effects proposed switching and operating procedures may have on the power system and the individual elements.

Qualifications: In order to be qualified for this position, you must meet the basic requirement AND minimum qualification requirements for the grade level(s) in which you apply. BASIC REQUIREMENT: You must meet one of the following: 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: 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. (You must submit licensure or registration.) 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. (You must submit documentation) 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.) MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered minimally qualified for this position, you must demonstrate that you have the required specialized experience and/or education for the respective grade level(s) in which you are applying. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience for this position is defined as: For the GS-07: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering. You may also qualify for the GS-07: If you have successfully completed of one full year of graduate level education; -OR- If you have obtained a bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement; -OR- If you have a combination of experience and education as described above. For the GS-09: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: Applying practical knowledge in the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering; Analysis of high voltage power systems. You may also qualify for the GS-09: If you have two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree, if related; -OR- If you have a combination of superior academic achievement and one (1) year of appropriate professional experience; -OR- If you have a combination of experience and education as described above. For the GS-11: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: Preparing operational planning studies and reporting on power system additions and modifications; Implementing mandatory reliability standards. You may also qualify for the GS-11: If you have three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree; -OR- If you have a combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position. ***Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 4-May-2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty.*** For the GS-12: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: Preparing and reviewing operational planning studies and reports on power system additions and modifications; Developing, coordinating, and maintaining the network models utilized for steady state and transient analysis of power systems; Implementing mandatory reliability standards that pertain to the operation and planning of power systems. For the GS-13: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-12) in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: Preparing and reviewing operational planning studies and reports on power system additions and modifications; Developing, coordinating, and maintaining the network models utilized for steady state and transient analysis of power systems; Proposing new engineering and/or operating policies, practices, or guidelines related to the reliable operation of the Bulk Electric System; Implementing mandatory NERC reliability standards that pertain to the operation and planning of the Bulk Electric System. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); 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.

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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/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://my.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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/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://www.usajobs.gov/Help/ 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.

Application Deadline: 2026-05-11