Electrical Engineer

Summary This position is in the Bonneville Power Administration's Transmission Long-Term Engineering Planning group (TPLE) of Transmission Long-Term Planning (TPL), System Planning (TP), Transmission Services (T). This position is an opportunity for an experienced power systems engineer to contribute to the future of long-term transmission planning. The successful candidate will participate in the development of new processes, analytical methods, and tools used to identify future transmission needs. Responsibilities Shape the Future of Energy for the Pacific Northwest Join the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a leader in providing reliable, affordable, and clean energy to the Pacific Northwest. We are seeking a visionary Senior Electrical Engineer to join our long-term planning team. This isn't just a job; it's an opportunity to tackle some of the most complex challenges facing the power industry today. You will be at the forefront of shaping a resilient and modern power grid for the next generation, ensuring our region thrives in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. As an Electrical Engineer, you will be responsible for: Developing and analyzing long-term (10-20 year) scenarios for the future of the power grid, identifying the most robust and cost-effective solutions to ensure regional reliability. Providing strategic recommendations on major capital investments, balancing energy resource needs with transmission development to guide the grid's optimal evolution. Evaluating the impact of emerging technologies on the transmission system. Acting as a key technical advisor and representing the Bonneville Power Administration in regional and national industry forums (such as NERC and WECC), influencing policy and technical standards. Leading sophisticated power system simulations to analyze grid performance, forecast future needs, and identify necessary infrastructure upgrades. Using advanced economic models to analyze energy market behavior and grid congestion, recommending solutions to enhance both market efficiency and system reliability. Developing and implementing innovative, risk-based analytical frameworks to guide multi-million-dollar investment decisions in an increasingly complex and uncertain energy future. Collaborating with other utilities and regional partners to create effective, joint solutions for complex, cross-boundary transmission challenges that benefit the entire Pacific Northwest. Perform advanced transmission planning studies using powerflow, production cost modeling, and long-term capacity expansion tools to support the development of proactive planning transmission project portfolios, long-term capital investment decisions, and the engineering assessment of long-term firm transmission service. Requirements 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: 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. 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: 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- 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- 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- 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: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must also meet the specialized experience requirements as listed below. 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: applying electrical engineering theories, principles, concepts, and standards to 1) perform long-term transmission planning and operations, power system studies, and ensure compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements; and 2) advise on problems, conditions, and functions of electric facilities, systems, and equipment.

Created: 2026-05-04