Plant Mechanic Operator

Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on his or her expertise as a Plant Mechanic/Operator. Make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment. This position is also open to public under announcement CBVM-27-13102134-DE-VG. You must apply to each announcement separately if you wish to be considered under both recruitment methods.

Duties

This position is located within the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Pacific Northwest Region, Palisades Powerplant Maintenance, Palisades, Idaho. At the full performance level (BB) the major duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following: - Performs the full range of mechanical maintenance duties in a hydroelectric powerplant, dam, and related facilities. - Performs work in accordance with applicable mechanical standards, Facility Instructions, Standards and Techniques, and other nationally recognized trade practices. - Operates bridge cranes and other hoisting mechanisms for the purpose of moving, dismantling, assembling, overhauling and repairing of hydroelectric plant machinery and related equipment. - Operates and maintains lathes, shapers, milling machines, drill presses and band saws. - Skilled in the use oxyacetylene, arc, air-arc, TIG and MIG welding equipment for use on materials such as; aluminum, steel, stainless steel and cast. - As a Sub-Operator, starts and stops hydroelectric generating units and operates valves, gates, and all related electrical and mechanical-supporting equipment independently or as directed by dispatchers or supervisors. - Maintains daily, weekly, and monthly logs, records, reports, work requests, trouble reports, power generation reports, operations reports, and equipment availability records as required for plant operation. - Performs switching as required and observes all switching and safe-clearance procedures and other safe work practices. Must complete SRAO sub-operator cross training program. Required to live within 60 minute commute, as employee will be on the call-out list and provide first response in emergency situations. Major mechanical projects and maintenance would not be performed. This would also reduce the number of sub operator's for call outs which could put the Plant in danger or have issues restoring the river. Use of a government credit card is required. Must have a valid state driver's license and will be subject to periodic license checks. Must be able to drive on unimproved mountain roads. Must be able to drive on snow and ice. Must be able to drive 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles and snow machines. Salary Range Information (Per Hour): *First time hires to the federal government typically start at the beginning salary in the range for their respective grade level. Salary: $60.98 SRAO Operator Cross-Training Requirement: The selectee will be required to complete the Snake River Area Office sub-operator cross training program within one year of beginning the instructional program. Failure to successfully complete the training will result in removal from Federal service. The selectee will initially be placed at the rate of $60.98 and upon successful completion of the training program, the selectee may be promoted without further competition to a Plant Mechanic/Operator at the full performance rate of $63.42.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Direct Deposit participation required. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You must pass a physical examination. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. You must be at least 18 years of age or older to operate government vehicles. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This probationary period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications and evaluation

A review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses provided in the Assessment Questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation, you will be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score will be adjusted accordingly. If a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications or experience, you can lose consideration for this position. Your resume must not exceed 2 pages. Only the document submitted as the "Resume" under the Documents section will be used to determine your qualifications/eligibility and for rating purposes. In the event you submit more than one resume, only the latest submission will be reviewed. You will be assessed in the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision (Screen-out Element) Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading) Ability to Operate Safely (Non-motor Vehicles) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Troubleshooting All qualified non-competitive applicants and the best-qualified Merit Promotion applicants will be referred to the hiring manager for consideration. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration or your score may be lowered. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Applicants who include vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate language or information in their application package will be ineligible for further consideration for this position. Current surplus and current or former displaced Federal individuals who have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) must be well qualified for the position to receive consideration for special priority selection. Well qualified means that the applicant meets the following: OPM qualification standards for the position; all selective placement factors, where applicable; special qualifying conditions that OPM has approved for the position, where applicable; is physically qualified with reasonable accommodation, where appropriate to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry; and is rated by the organization at least at the well qualified level. Current or former displaced Federal employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). To be considered under CTAP/ICTAP, you must be well-qualified, score at least 80 (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors, experience and/or physical requirements), and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Education

There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage System (FWS) positions.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments, select appropriate hiring eligibilities, and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the 11/18/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement to receive consideration. Note: You will only be marked eligible for those eligibilities that you selected and provided the appropriate supporting documentation. The application process is as follows: Click the Apply Online button. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. To PREVIEW the application questionnaire, select the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13102135 Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date. Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies within the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s), including within the same metro/commuting area. Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. Eligibilities: Please ensure you complete the Eligibility section of this application. This section determines the hiring paths under which you may be considered for this position. You will only be considered for the eligibilities you select. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach each eligibility carefully to understand the requirements and select all that apply. For each eligibility selected, you must upload the required supporting documentation. Review the eligibility descriptions to confirm you are providing the correct documents. You may select more than one eligibility, if applicable. If you do not select at least one eligibility, you will not be considered for this vacancy. To learn more about federal hiring paths, visit USAJOBS - Unique Hiring Paths. To view the announcement status or your application status, visit https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status.

Required documents

The following documents are required and must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) -11/18/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement: Resume which includes a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed. If military or civilian, please include your rank and/or grade. Resumes must not exceed two single-sided pages and resumes longer than two pages will not be accepted. The minimum font size is 10-point for all body text. All resumes must maintain a minimum 0.5-inch margins on all sides to ensure readability and prevent excessive content compression. Including supplemental pages or attachments disguised as resume extensions are prohibited and will not be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications. Your 2-page resume must contain information sufficient to make a valid determination that you fully meet the qualification requirements. More information on how to write a Federal Resume: https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include Complete All Required Assessment(s). Performance Appraisals and Awards: You must submit your most recent performance appraisal showing the official rating of record and signed by a supervisor dated within the past 18 months. If unavailable, a written explanation is required (including if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level). Performance awards dated within the past 5 years may also be submitted for due weight consideration. Eligibility Documentation: Current and former Federal employees must submit latest SF-50 (i.e. Promotion, Separation, Within Grade Increase (WGI)) showing tenure 1 or 2 in block 24, grade, and if applicable, an additional SF-50 showing the highest grade or promotion potential held. Time in grade will be determined by reviewing your resume and required SF-50s. If your SF-50 showing highest permanent grade held has an effective date within the past year, your resume must clearly show that you held that grade for one year. Do not submit award SF-50s. Veterans Preference Documentation: Veterans eligible under VRA (GS-11 & below only), VEOA, 30% or more Disabled, or Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a VA Training Program must submit the most recent Documentation of Service and Separation under Honorable Conditions (e.g. DD-214) as listed on the SF15. If you are a Parent or Spouse of a Disabled or Deceased Veteran, you must submit all documentation as listed on the SF15. You may request a copy of the VA letter from https://www.va.gov/records. If you are a veteran within 120 days of discharge, you must submit signed documentation from the Armed Forces certifying: 1) your expected release/retirement from active duty, 2) under honorable conditions, 3) your pay grade/rank/rate at time of discharge, 4) dates of active-duty service, 5) any campaign or expeditionary medals received, & 6) dated within 120 days of your separation. Public Land Corps: You must provide a copy of your signed Certificate of Non-Competitive Eligibility and clearly state in your resume time served and duties performed on an appropriate conservation project. Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA): you must submit ALL Appointment AND Termination SF-50s for EACH Competitive time-limited appointment (block 34, code 1); AND Documentation of satisfactory performance for each period of temporary employment claimed, such as, performance evaluations, memorandum of record, whereas the supervisor(s) documented an acceptable performance level for a specified rating/employment period. Special Appointing Authorities: If you are applying under a special appointing authority (i.e. Schedule A, Peace Corps, Military Spouses, etc.), you must submit appropriate documentation to verify your eligibility. If you fail to submit proof, you will not receive consideration. If you're eligible for an authority not listed, you are responsible for submitting documentation that's appropriate for that specific authority. Interagency Career Transition (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP): You MUST submit proof of eligibility including a copy of the agency notice, most recent performance rating, and most recent SF-50 showing your position, grade level, and duty location. For more information visit: USAJOBS Help Center - Career Transition Programs (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL). Failure to submit any of the above-mentioned required documents will result in loss of consideration due to an incomplete application package. It is your responsibility to ensure all required documents have been submitted. Do not submit photographs with your application package. Do not upload Adobe portfolio documents.

Additional information

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement. Promotion to the full performance level is neither guaranteed nor implied and will be based solely on your ability to satisfactorily perform the work of the position, existing work at the higher grade level, and recommendation by the position's supervisor. If otherwise eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive. A continued service agreement may be required if it is determined you are eligible for a permanent change in duty station (PCS), recruitment, or relocation incentive. Physical Demands: In the performance of duties, the incumbent may be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 40 pounds, and often puts forth similar effort in pushing, pulling, turning and positioning parts, assemblies, equipment and tools. May be required to lift and move heavier items with the assistance of others and with lifting devices such as jacks, hoists and cranes. Frequent standing, bending, stooping, kneeling and sitting for long periods may be required. May perform work requiring the use of a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), respirator, air filtration mask or other respiratory devices. Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors and outdoors during mixed weather conditions and subject to varying terrain requiring increased physical demands to perform duties. Works on or around hazardous energy. Work may be performed from ladders, scaffolds and on top of switchyard structures. May work in close restricted quarters. May work in hazardous areas and with hazardous materials. May be subjected to hazardous noise. May be required to work from a bucket truck. Requires welding in the turbine pits with fresh air supply. Works in confined spaces using applicable safety procedures. Works on or around moving equipment. All Department of Interior (DOI) employees, their spouses, and minor children may not acquire or retain any claim, permit, lease, small tract entry, or other rights granted by the Department in Federal lands, with limited exceptions. Additional ethics prohibitions can be found here, https://www.doi.gov/ethics/ethics-prohibitions.