Electrical Engineer

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in Project Scoping (TEEL), Substation Engineering (TEE), Engineering and Technical Services (TE), Transmission Services (T). Shape the future of clean, reliable power! We are seeking an innovative Electrical Engineer to solve complex grid challenges, deploy state-of-the-art electrical systems, and ensure regional power reliability. If you are a versatile engineer ready to lead high-impact projects, apply now to join our team!

Power the Future of Clean Energy: Lead Critical Grid Innovation Across the Pacific Northwest At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our mission is vital: we deliver clean, reliable, and carbon-free hydroelectric energy across the Pacific Northwest, driving regional economies and powering millions of lives. As an Electrical Engineer at BPA, you will step directly into the vanguard of this mission. Operating within our Power or Transmission Services organizations, you won't just maintain existing infrastructure-you will solve complex engineering puzzles, test emerging technologies, and shape the resilience and capacity of one of the nation's most robust high-voltage energy networks. If you are driven to make a tangible, lasting impact on the future of energy, explore the six key responsibilities where your expertise will make a difference: 1. Designing Next-Generation High-Voltage Power Systems Design, evaluate, and implement state-of-the-art electrical systems and high-voltage substation equipment built to exacting standards. You will develop innovative electrical layouts, resolve intricate mechanical and electrical design trade-offs, and engineer custom solutions for high-demand, high-capacity energy distribution networks where conventional playbooks don't apply. 2. Pioneering & Testing Breakthrough Energy Technologies Collaborate directly with leading industry equipment manufacturers, research labs, and technical specialists to evaluate and field-test experimental technologies. You will assess first-of-their-kind hardware, define technical specifications, and lead testing and energization efforts to safely integrate game-changing innovations into the commercial power grid. 3. Conducting Advanced Regional Grid Simulations & Stability Modeling Leverage advanced computational modeling tools to digitally simulate power flow, voltage stability, and transient dynamics across the interconnected regional grid. Your analytical findings and operational models will establish real-time operating limits, prevent outages, and ensure continuous electrical reliability during severe weather and unexpected system disruptions. 4. Directing Strategic Transmission Expansion & Modernization Studies Plan and steer comprehensive technical feasibility studies to modernize high-voltage transmission corridors. You will evaluate alternative grid configurations, eliminate performance bottlenecks, and chart engineering roadmaps that expand transmission capacity to integrate new generation sources. 5. Engineering Mission-Critical, 24/7 Grid Control & Automation Systems Design, optimize, and protect the high-availability hardware and software systems that empower operators to monitor and dispatch regional power around the clock. You will safeguard real-time data acquisition and energy management platforms, implementing robust cybersecurity defenses, network hardening, and automated control tools to defend critical infrastructure against modern threats. 6. Leading High-Impact Projects & Mentoring Technical Teams Serve as a project leader and technical authority, guiding multifaceted engineering initiatives from concept through procurement, budgeting, and field commissioning. You will establish technical standards, coordinate multidisciplinary engineering groups and external contractors, and mentor rising engineers to build organizational technical excellence. Who We Are Looking For: A forward-thinking electrical engineer who thrives on technical autonomy, complex problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership. Whether you are modernizing high-voltage equipment, simulating grid dynamics, or architecting resilient automated systems, your work will ensure millions of homes and businesses have dependable power every single day.

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. This position may be subject to FERC SOC non-discrimination rules and restrictions prohibiting disclosure of certain information to Power Merchant Function employees. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Standards of Conduct (SOC): The incumbent may be required to have a working knowledge of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Standards of Conduct (SOC) to ensure fair competition in the open access transmission market though compliance with its basic principles. The FERC SOC basic principles require BPA's Transmission Function employees and its affiliated Power Merchant Function employees to function independently and abide by non-discriminatory information access and prohibited disclosure regulations for transmission-related information that is not equally available to all customers. In addition, the incumbent may be required to complete BPA's mandatory SOC training.