High Voltage Electrical Apprentice I (Lineman and Electrician)

Summary

The Apprenticeship program is a formal training program consisting of 8 steps for Electrician and Lineman (4 years). The apprentice must pass an end-of-step review following each 6-month step to remain in the program. Apprentices will be promoted to journeymen after successfully passing the final step review.

Duties

Electrician Apprentice I, series 2810: A successful candidate in the position of an Electrician Apprentice I will, under direct supervision of a Journeyman Electrician or Electrician Foreman, perform tasks which typically involve installation and adjustment (Construction) or maintenance and repair (Maintenance) of electrical equipment in Substations. The construction tasks include erection of new facilities or removal of old facilities. The maintenance tasks include routine inspection, modification, troubleshooting, and repair of facilities. Equipment serviced may be electrical, hydraulic, mechanical, pneumatic, and/or electronic. Locations Available: Kent, WA; Clarkston, WA; Olympia, WA; Pacso, WA; Snohomish, WA; Spokane, WA; Vancouver, WA; Redmond, OR; Malin, OR; The Dalles, OR; Umatilla, OR. Lineman Apprentice I, series 2810: A successful candidate in the position of Lineman Apprentice I will, under direct supervision of a Journeyman Lineman or Lineman Foreman, be trained to maintain and construct high voltage transmission lines throughout the Northwest. Lineman Apprentices will be trained to perform this work on wood poles and steel tower lines through 500kV alternating current (AC) and 1000kV direct current (DC). Locations Available: Grand Coulee, WA; Pasco, WA; Vancouver, WA; Eugene, OR; The Dalles, OR. Satisfactory completion of all aspects of each step including the online courses and classroom instruction is mandatory for advancement to the next step. Failure to meet program requirements contained in the Standard of Apprenticeship will result in removal from the Apprenticeship program. The Apprentice can expect to be in a travel status approximately 25% - 50% of the time to complete some of the work processes and training. The Apprentice will be paid for travel and per diem expenses, in accordance with applicable travel regulations, for expenses incurred in connection with mandatory training, including training on scheduled days off. The cost of tuition, books, and related materials will be paid by BPA. Next Apprentice class will start February 7th, 2027.

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. Reside within one (1) hour (90 minutes for Grand Coulee, WA) of commuting time under normal weather and road conditions, to the duty station headquarters. Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual. Obtain a First Aid and CPR Card within the first month of employment and continuously thereafter. Subject to call outs for emergency work at any time. Apprentices may be selected for and relocated to their first assigned duty station during the last 12 months of the program. Position requires a pre-employment medical exam, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position. Subject to periodic physical examinations. Maintain a valid state driver's license. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants and can be cause for removal from the program. Position may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year. May be required to apply pesticides and obtain a pesticide applicator's license. Wear protective apparel such as respirators when required for worker safety. Become certified on aerial lift equipment or other equipment if assigned. Obtain a valid commercial driver's license (CDL) with all endorsements required for operation of equipment within one year of employment and maintain continuously thereafter. Possess a Substation Entry Permit within the one-year of employment and maintain it thereafter. Occasionally, fly in helicopters or fixed wing aircraft in the performance of duties. (Lineman) Participate in all training activities such as training related to hazardous waste handling, oil spill containment and cleanup, and others. Obtain certification as a flag person. This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment. The positions at Ashe (Richland, WA) require unescorted access to a nuclear facility under the jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Those positions at Ashe (Richland, WA) will be required to take annual radiation training and pass a written exam

Qualifications and evaluation

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses to the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. USAHire: The USA Hire Assessment includes a cut score. USA Hire cut scores are based on the minimum level of proficiency required to perform the job for a specific series and grade. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment. The cut score is set at a government-wide level and not at the agency or individual vacancy level for USA Hire standard assessments. In accordance with 5 CFR 300.201(a), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management does not release testing and examination materials, scoring criteria including the specific cut score requirements, or other information used solely to determine individual qualifications, so as not to compromise the objectivity of the testing process. Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review your two-page resume and supporting documentation to determine whether you meet the minimum job qualifications. 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' or 'not qualified'. Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date (09/03/2026) of this announcement. To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13033093

Education

There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.

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://help.usajobs.gov/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://login.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://help.usajobs.gov/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://help.usajobs.gov/how-to 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 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). Information on how to create a federal resume https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume Cover Letter, optional, expressing additional information not covered in your resume. 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

Under the Employee Referral Bonus program, certain BPA employees may be eligible for a monetary award for referring outside candidates for this difficult-to-fill position. The referring employee must complete the form BPA F 33300.01e and email it to careers@bpa.gov by midnight of the closing date of the job posting. Current DOE employees are not eligible under the Direct Hiring Authority. Information on how to create a federal resume https://www.usa.gov/government-jobs https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/account/documents/resume/build https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YX7o1PBoFk EEO Policy: USAJOBS Help Center | Equal employment opportunity policy Reasonable Accommodation Policy: Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. USAJOBS Help Center | Reasonable accommodation policy Reasonable Accommodation for USAHire: 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. Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ - Who must register: https://www.sss.gov/faq/#who-needs-to-register BPA strives to ensure a safe and positive work environment. We also understand the importance of work/life balance and offer a variety of programs and policies designed to create more flexible, responsive work environments supportive of commitments to community, home and family members. BPA also supports employees' overall wellness through its Be Well program, which helps employees adopt healthier lifestyles and feel better about their work/life balance. The program supports five key areas of life: career, community, financial, physical and social.?