High Voltage Electrician Lineman (Apprentice)

Summary

This position is part of the Western Area Power Administration. As a High Voltage Electrician Lineman (Apprentice), you will be a is established as an apprentice in the Lineman trade. During the term of the apprenticeship, the apprentice shall be provided progressively more complex and responsible training and experience in order to assure that upon completion, the apprentice will possess both the theoretical and practical knowledge, skill, and ability of the trade

Duties

The positions will fall within: Upper Great Plains Region (B5120); Rocky Mountain Region (J5000); Desert Southwest Region (G5200); Sierra Nevada Region (N5800). As a High Voltage Electrician (Lineman) Apprentice, you will: Learns to inspect electric power transmission lines including steel towers and wood poles on foot, or from vehicles or aircraft. Learns to inspect for damaged wood poles, cross arms, grounds, and X-braces; loose bolts; broken or flashed insulators; missing or damaged vibration or spacer dampers; damaged conductors or overhead ground wires; bent or missing steel members; and missing cotter keys. Assists in the installation and replacement of poles, cross arms, line hardware, lightning arresters, fiber optic, and auxiliary equipment. Learns to string conductor, optical ground wire (OPGW), and fiber optic cable from structure to structure; assists in splicing conductor; help replace poles; and observes work on energized lines requiring the use of hotline tools and bare hand techniques. Learns to safely operate heavy equipment typically used in construction and maintenance of transmission lines, substations, and communications facilities which may include line trucks, tractor-trailer combinations, back hoes, bulldozers, aerial lifts, trucks, wire pullers, tensioners, loaders, diggers, motor graders, cranes, crawler tractors, brush hogs, tree chippers, hydro axes, snow vehicles and snowplows. Learns to use test equipment and specialized maintenance tools such as Hi-pot for hot stick testing, personal protective ground testers, ground resistance testers, phase-rotation meters, conductor cart, hook ladder, voltmeters, voltage detector, thermographic cameras, and ammeters.

Requirements

This is an open and continuous announcement. The announcement will run for 6 months. The first certificate will be issued to the hiring manager 2 weeks from 08/21/2026 and then every month thereafter. If you are not selected or referred to the hiring manager, you will need to reapply for further consideration. 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. A Service Agreement of up to 2 years is required for this position. Position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing. You must pass pre-employment medical examination. Security clearance and associated requirements - Moderate Risk. The incumbent is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 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 regular and recurring overtime. Overtime may be required on short notice to include nights, holidays, and weekends in support of related mission requirements. 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. The incumbent must possess upon entry into the position and continue to maintain a Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to operate vehicles of more than 26,000 pounds GVWR upon entry into the position. The license must NOT have the following restriction codes: L, Z, E, O.

Qualifications and evaluation

This position is announced under a government-wide Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) for High Voltage Electrician (Lineman) positions in the 2810 series. Under the DHA, applicants who meet the Education and Qualification requirements listed in this announcement will be referred for consideration. Veteran's Preference, category rating, and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply under the DHA process. Appointments made under the DHA are processed as "new" appointments. Current Federal employees may be required to serve a new probationary period (5 CFR 315.802(b). Successful candidates will possess 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: If you are eligible for career transition assistance, such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the Education and Qualification requirements to be referred for consideration. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (01/20/2027) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13038878

Education

For this position, education cannot be substituted for experience.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits. Are you a transitioning service member or veteran looking for a new career opportunity? Registered Apprenticeship is a unique and rewarding pathway to developing in-demand workplace and technical skills while earning a paycheck in the career of your dreams from day one. Registered Apprenticeship is an industry-driven, high-quality career pathway through which employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally recognized credential. Registered Apprenticeships are industry-vetted and approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency Apply for benefits: benefits.va.gov/benefit Determine if other organizations/employers are "Approved for the GI Bill:" inquiry.vba.va.gov/weamspub/buildSearchInstitutionCriteria.do

How to apply

This open and continuous announcement establishes a standing register of eligible applicants. Applications received by Sep 14 2026, will be considered for the first referral. Applications received on/after Sep 15, 2026, but by Oct 14, 2026, will be considered for the second referral. Applications received on/after Oct 15, 2026, buy by Nov 13, 2026 will be considered for the third referral. Applications received on/after Nov 14, 2026, but by Dec 13, 2026, will be considered for the Fourth referral. Applications received after Dec 14, 2026, but by Jan 20, 2026, will be considered for the final referral. You do need to resubmit your application between referral periods unless your contact information, qualifications, or interest change. 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 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). Transcripts, if specific educational requirements are indicated in this job announcement. Unofficial transcripts or any report listing institution, course title, credits earned (semester or quarter hour) and final grade is acceptable. It is your responsibility to provide adequate proof that you meet the educational requirements. 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

You do need to resubmit your application between referral periods unless your contact information, qualifications, or interest change. 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 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. Status and non-status applicants from outside DOE selected under this authority are required to serve a mandatory one (1) year probationary period. A DOE career status employee selected for this position may be required to serve a new one (1) year probationary period, pursuant to 5 CFR 315.802. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across DOE.