Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Meter & Relay) Apprentice

Summary

This position is part of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA). As an Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Meter & Relay) Apprentice, you will be responsible for the maintenance, repair, and programming of complex electrical and electronic equipment within power system substations.

Duties

As an Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic (Meter & Relay) Apprentice, you will: Maintain, repair, modify, program, install and commission power system substation protection control, monitoring and metering equipment. Maintain, repair, install, program, and test polyphase revenue metering equipment, including electronic and microprocessor-based kilowatt-hour meters, digital demand recorders, panel meters, transducers, and instrument transformers. Maintain, repair, install, program, and test equipment used in controlling substation equipment. This includes human/machine interfaces (HMI), and communication processors. Maintain, repair, install, program, and test protective relay equipment including current, voltage, differential, reclosing, timing, auxiliary, ground detection, and complex impedance relays of the electromechanical, electronic and microprocessor types. Develop software test routines for protective relays. Verify protective relay, transfer trip, and communication settings.

Requirements

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. 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. A Service Agreement of up to 2 years is required for this position. You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450). Position is subject to random drug testing. You must pass pre-employment drug testing. You must pass pre-employment medical examination. Security clearance and associated requirements- Moderate Risk. Shift work and emergency overtime may be required. Employee may be required to work other than normal duty hours, to include evenings, weekends and/or holidays. The incumbent must wear Arc Rated protective clothing when in proximity to exposed energized circuits. The incumbent of this position is subject to inclement weather conditions such as high temperatures, rain, sleet, snow, and extreme cold. This position may require the incumbent to occasionally fly in a fixed wing aircraft or helicopter during the performance of assigned duties. The incumbent may be required to obtain and maintain the required DOE/WAPA training/certification to serve as a Government Purchase Card (GPC) holder. If authorized to utilize GPC for transactions exceeding $3500; the incumbent is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450), upon entering the position and annually.

Qualifications and evaluation

Once the application process is complete, the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the self-assessment questions (True/False, Yes/ No, Multiple Choice questions) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three pre-defined quality categories under Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job. Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Office will review the first two pages of your resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed ahead of non-preference eligibles with the same score. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are listed at the top of the certificate in the order of their ratings. Category Rating Procedure: You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. Once the application process is complete, your resume, supporting documentation, and questionnaire/assessment responses will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your responses to the rating assessment(s) will be evaluated and you will be placed into one of three predefined quality categories. These categories are Best Qualified, Well Qualified, and Qualified. Application of Veterans' Preference: If you are a preference eligible candidate, you will be listed at the top of whichever quality category your rating places you in. Preference eligibles with a compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more are placed at the top of the highest category for all positions except scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or above (or equivalent). Simultaneous Listing: Candidates may be referred simultaneously on multiple certificates for which they are interested, eligible, and within reach. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Ability To Follow Directions in a Shop Ability To Work as a Member of a Team Aptitude and Interest for Learning Trade Theory and Practice Career Transition Assistance Programs: To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet the eligibility criteria; and 2) be rated "well-qualified". You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (03/10/2027) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13052276.

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for 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.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package which includes: Your two (2) page RESUME showing all relevant work experience (paid and unpaid) including: duties performed; full name and address of the each employer; start and end dates (month/day/year); work schedule (part-time, full-time, number of hours if intermittent); salary; and any completed education and training (program title, subject area, number of hours completed, and completion date). If applicable: Veterans' Preference documentation, if applicable, DD-214 Member Copy 4 showing type of discharge/character of service; current active duty members- certification of expected discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions dated within 120 days; SF-15 Form and related documentation; VA letter. For more information visit the USAJOBS Help Center & OPM CHCOC website for VOW information. Career Transition Assistance Program/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program documentation, if applicable (e.g., Certification of Expected Separation, Reduction-In-Force Separation Notice, or Notice of Proposed Removal; SF-50 that documents the RIF separation action; and most recent performance appraisal.) For more information see the OPM Guide to Career Transition. Failure to submit any of the above mentioned required documents may result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted.

Additional information

This open and continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants. Applications received by Sep 24 2026, will be considered for the first referral. Applications received on/after Sep 25, 2026, but by Oct 24, 2026, will be considered for the second referral. Applications received on/after Oct 25, 2026, buy by Nov 23, 2026 will be considered for the third referral. Applications received on/after Nov 24, 2026, but by Dec 23, 2026, will be considered for the fourth referral. Applications received after Dec 24, 2026, but by Jan 23, 2027, will be considered for the fifth referral. Applications received after Jan 24, 2027, but by Feb 23, 2027, will be considered for the sixth referral. ?Applications received after Feb 24, 2027, but by March 10, 2027, will be considered for the final referral. 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. Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level. Upon reporting, and annually thereafter, the selectee may be required to file one or more financial statements and/or a procurement integrity certification. These certifications may be subject to public disclosure. 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 Ranges: Arizona Duty Locations: $46.76 - $66.56 Colorado Duty Locations: $45.54 - $68.02 Nevada Duty Locations: $58.81 - $85.96 South Dakota Duty Locations: $42.92 - $62.74 California Duty Locations: $58.81 - $85.96