Electronics Engineer

Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the subject-matter expert on the industrial control systems (ICS) remote terminal unit (RTU) and programmable logic controller (PLC) interface(s) to sensors automation equipment and data communications systems of water and power facilities within the Region.
• Applies electronics engineering to communications switching and control systems as required for total system design and integration.
• Performs in-depth analysis of ICS and SCADA systems to determine improvements towards system optimization performance and operational reliability.
• Prepares testing and implementation of electronics engineering plans for industrial control systems to ensure optimal performance reliability and compatibility with the existing telemetry systems.
• Performs technical analysis of electronics equipment operations to verify proper communications system operation the need for special maintenance techniques the adequacy of existing equipment or the need for additional facilities.
• Prepares system documentation in accordance with office and agency standards.
• Utilizes knowledge of digital electronics systems software software engineering practices communications and power system control equipment to provide the electronics engineering technical guidance needed to effectively troubleshoot systems in support of hydroelectric power operations.
• Participates in system acceptability testing and implementation. Meets frequently with engineers IT Specialists operators and contractor personnel to coordinate work.
• Serves as a member of the continuity of operations response and recovery teams.

Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level.

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication.
• Males born aftermust be registered for Selective Service.
• Direct Deposit participation required.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more visit position may require the employee to participate in mandatory on-call status whereby the employee is to remain suitable for duty and to leave a telephone number or to carry an electronic device for the purpose of being contacted and/or is required to remain within a 1.5 hour call-back radius.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you may be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or a 2-year trial period to evaluate your fitness and whether your continuation of employment advances the public interest.

This probationary or trial 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 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 individuals employment should continue and that their appointment should be the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probation your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement - 10/29/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. Competitive candidates must also meet Time-in-Grade requirements as defined in 5 CFR 300 Subpart F.

For current Federal employees if hours worked per week are not included on your resume you must submit a non-award SF-50 as part of your application to be used to validate your work schedule and determine the amount of specialized experience that you will be granted. An award SF-50 will not be acceptable documentation for which to consider your amount of qualifying experience. For periods of time that reflect military service the DD-214 or Statement of Service is sufficient to meet the work schedule requirement as the service dates will be reflected. For all other applicants who are not current federal employees your resume must state either full-time (or 40 hours a week) or part-time with the number of hours worked per week to ensure proper crediting of specialized experience.

Minimum Qualification Requirements: To qualify for this position you must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Basic Educational Requirement AND Specialized Experience for the series to which you are applying.

Basic Educational Requirements: In addition to the specialized experience requirements for this position you must meet at least one of the following:

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable the program must: (1) lead to a bachelors degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics such as optics heat transfer soil mechanics or electronics.
-OR-
B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education training and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering and (2) a good understanding both theoretical and practical of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI) Engineer in Training (EIT) or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State the District of Columbia Guam or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g. State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example an applicant who attains registration through a State Boards eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States the District of Columbia Guam and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical mathematical and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelors degree in an appropriate scientific field e.g. engineering technology physics chemistry architecture computer science mathematics hydrology or geology may be accepted in lieu of a bachelors degree in engineering provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience e.g. in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 grade level:
Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: experience in conducting preliminary investigations and analyses relating to systems integration in connection with systems installations; preparing design criteria for smaller or less complex electronic equipment portions of facilities; developing technical data for formal specifications regarding materials sizes dimensions quantities and costs; designing and constructing electronic systems and components; assist in troubleshooting existing installations and providing technical operational support for the industrial control system.
-OR-
Education: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.
-OR-
Combination of education and experience as listed above.

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 grade level:
Experience: To qualify you must possess at least one full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Specialized experience is defined as: Experience designing and developing unique and original electronics systems; analyzing specifications data sheet and drawings to determine applicability; conducting studies for extensive modifications of major components of electronic equipment; developing test and evaluation procedures for electronic systems and equipment; and troubleshooting existing installations and providing technical operational support for the industrial control system.

Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. Peace Corps AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community student social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies knowledge and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience including volunteer experience.