Electronics Engineer

About the role

This electronics engineer will work in Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)'s Testing and Commissioning – Specialty Services, PSC organization (TETS). The role involves installing and troubleshooting electronics and communication circuits on the BPA system and providing support for the planning, scheduling, and implementation of capital construction projects, specifically communication projects involving digital radios, fiber optics equipment, network management systems, and various types of command-and-control communications circuits. BPA, as a regional transmission provider, must interface with diverse and sometimes incompatible communications equipment. This position provides support for BPA's capital program to enable the seamless integration of communications equipment and the command-and-control circuitry needed for the safe and reliable delivery of energy across the Northwest.

The Electronics Engineer 1 will perform all duties under the assistance and initial guidance of BPA engineers and/or the BPA manager. The assignment's official duty station is at the Construction Services Building in Vancouver, Washington; however, the position involves up to 95% travel to various field locations across the BPA service area. Travel will be frequent and continuous over long periods of time.

The PSC Telecommunications function provides engineering, design, and field support for BPA's telecommunication facilities and associated equipment, including fiber optics, analog/mobile radio, digital radio, power line carrier, operational telephone, microwave towers and antennas, emergency AC/DC power and uninterruptable power supply (UPS) systems, communications buildings, multiplex equipment, and monitoring systems including alarm systems, Fault Locating Acquisition Reporter (FLAR), microwave monitor, and wide area networks used for operational data and network management. This assignment provides professional engineering expertise in assisting the project manager and other engineering personnel in implementing projects, supporting field maintenance crews and operations, and other related engineering activities.

Responsibilities

• Compile technical results in summary form such as tablets, reports, and graphics to support engineering staff
• Perform engineering studies with assistance from TETS-PSC Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and document findings in formal reports
• Participate in teams to research and test telecommunication and related equipment
• Provide planning support, coordinate plans of service with stakeholders, and implement plans for assigned projects
• Use standard telecommunications guides, design templates, standards and specifications to correct any discovered errors or variance from approved engineering standard
• Perform field research by traveling to remote sites to collect physical data
• Provide start-up and commissioning of substation and control center communication facilities, including radios (microwave, UHF, and VHF), multiplex equipment, telephone systems and fiber optic systems, including laboratory testing as well as field installation
• Prepare equipment settings sheets and all other documentation required to install and place in service the design packages associated with assigned projects
• Provide project scheduling updates for project tracking, including entering data and creating technical reports for work accomplished
• Perform installation and integration of communications equipment, utilizing technical documentation as required
• Mark documents and maintain filing system(s), files, emails, and records in accordance with compliance requirements
• Share and disperse documents only to appropriate personnel (those with a Lawful Government Purpose (LGP) to know)
• Mark and maintain all official records in accordance with the Information Security (INFOSEC) and Information Governance & Lifecycle Management (IGLM) standards and procedures
• Validate official records are accurately maintained for auditing purposes

Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably in electronic or telecommunications engineering, is required
• Candidates 3 months from graduation will be considered; proof of degree may be requested after graduation
• 6 months of electrical engineering experience is required (paid, unpaid, or part of training)
• Must have knowledge of engineering concepts, principles, and practices applicable to components and facilities found on a regional transmission system
• Skill in oral and written communication to effectively fulfill client, customer, and team requirements

Preferred Skills

• Experience or knowledge regarding preliminary engineering, design, and construction of telecommunications or network engineering projects
• Knowledge of backbone infrastructure connectivity including microwave radio and fiber optic telecommunications systems

Pay

The pay range for this position is $37.00 - $42.00/hr. Individual compensation offered within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include: Medical, dental & vision; Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital; 401(k) Retirement Plan (Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available); Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents); Short and long-term disability; Health Spending Account (HSA); Transportation benefits; Employee Assistance Program; and Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave).

Schedule

This is a fully onsite position in Vancouver, WA. This is a contract position.