Electrical Engineer (Protection)

Summary As an Electrical Engineer (Protection), you will perform work related to the application of knowledge in (a) the physical and engineering sciences and mathematics, (b) electrical phenomena, and (c) the principles, techniques, and practices of electrical engineering. The employee is a trainee and will participate in increasingly responsible work and sustained progress toward a fully functioning and independent Electrical Engineer. Responsibilities As an Electrical Engineer (Protection) at the full performance level, you will: Develop tests and trouble-shooting procedures for protection equipment for use by craftsmen. For complex tests or trouble-shooting provides technical support to craftsmen at site. Evaluate and document test results. Develop fixes and/enhancements resulting from the above work. Create logic and control settings. Engineer additions, modifications and replacements to protection and control systems and for revenue metering. This includes planning, preparing cost estimates, engineering coordination, scheduling, testing and documenting the job. Design (or review designs of others), implement and commission major portions of, or a completely new protection and control system for a substation. Perform technical analysis of equipment operations and system disturbances to verify proper protection equipment operation using computerized models and tools, and documents findings. Provide technical support to craft employees and others during the installation and commission of the power system and updates the as-built drawings. Keep drawings at office and substation current. Oversee testing/inspection/repair of malfunctions equipment. Recommend changes to equipment or system to prevent future failures or to improve the system. Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. This employer participates in the e-Verify program. Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation. May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period. Employees serving on a probationary or trial period may be terminated at any time during the probationary or trial period for performance, conduct, or business-related reasons in the interest of Federal service. In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to the four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answers to these questions are not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration. 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 and qualifications. Security clearance and associated requirements- tier 2/moderate risk. The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This position requires the ability to operate a Government vehicle. The incumbent must be able to obtain and maintain Defensive Drivers Certification and have a valid state driver's license. Defensive Driver's Training will be completed upon employment. Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 08/28/2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty. Qualifications Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement. 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. To qualify at the GS-05:Applicants must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0800 Series as described above. To qualify at the GS-7: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes: Applying practical knowledge of electrical engineering concepts, principles, and methodology while performing routine engineering projects. OR Education: One (1) year of graduate-level education or Superior Academic Achievement (S.A.A). OR A combination of education and experience to successfully perform the duties of the position. To qualify at the GS-9: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes: Applying practical knowledge of electrical engineering concepts, principles, and methodology to perform routine engineering projects related to power systems operations, transmission planning, and/or power systems reliability. OR Education: 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 A combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position. To qualify at the GS-11: In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes: Developing AC and DC electrical schematic drawings and control wiring diagrams. OR Education: Three (3) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, if related. OR A combination of education and experience as described above to successfully perform the duties of the position. To qualify at the GS-12:In addition to meeting the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) for the 0800 series, applicants must have one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service. This experience includes: Resolving electrical power systems and equipment failures, conditions and problems; and Developing and implementing commissioning work plans for electrical power equipment protection and control systems. "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. 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 and qualifications. Education Applicants completing degree requirements within 120 days of 08/28/2026 may apply. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded at time of application and official transcripts are required prior to entrance on duty. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system. Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE. For general information on government-wide Telework polices visit: www.telework.gov. Applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) when applying or competing for a job due to a medical condition or to exercise religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Agency Contact listed on this vacancy announcement. If selection is made at a lower grade, promotion up to the full performance level may be made without further competition. However, promotion(s) will depend on the performance of the incumbent and are not guaranteed. The selectee for this position may be eligible to receive a recruitment or relocation incentive. You will need to sign an employment agreement to be eligible for this incentive. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are not authorized. This position may be eligible for creditable service towards annual leave. Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. DOE may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service. Salary: This position is under Special Pay Table 0755 Reasonable Accommodation Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended, that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a reasonable accommodation in your online application. Requests for Reasonable Accommodations for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for Reasonable Accommodation must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for Reasonable Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a Reasonable Accommodation, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here.