Power System Protection Engineer.

About the Role

Join the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) in a premier leadership and advisory role within our Transmission Services division. As the Power System Protection Engineer, you will serve as the chief technical authority, guiding engineering and field operations to ensure the safety, reliability, and modernization of the Pacific Northwest’s transmission grid. This role is ideal for an experienced professional ready to leverage deep regional expertise, mentor teams, and shape the future of grid infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal technical advisor on grid safety, steering critical decisions on complex systems, equipment configurations, and future expansion for internal teams and external partners, including utilities, national laboratories, and regulatory bodies.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team of specialists and field technicians, establishing uniform equipment configurations, rigorous protection standards, and advanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard the grid from physical and digital threats.
• Design and deliver advanced training programs on power system safeguards, championing career development and technical excellence for engineers and field craftsmen across regional offices.
• Develop and implement system-wide quality control and operational policies, ensuring optimal performance of grid protection devices and alignment with evolving regulations, safety protocols, and industry best practices.
• Investigate complex grid incidents and system anomalies, identifying root causes, designing corrective solutions, and approving system-wide modifications to prevent future interruptions and maintain regional grid integrity.
• Pioneer the integration of next-generation grid technologies, including smart-grid solutions, state-of-the-art protection equipment, and modern digital communication protocols to modernize transmission infrastructure and support clean energy integration.

Requirements

To qualify for this role, you must meet the following requirements:

• Citizenship: You must be a United States citizen.
• Selective Service: Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• Background Check: This position requires a PUBLIC TRUST background investigation. A preliminary background check must be completed before employment begins.
• Financial Disclosure: Selectees must complete the Office of Government Ethics Standard of Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OFGE450e) within 30 days of employment and annually thereafter.
• Physical Examinations: Periodic physical examinations may be required if exposed to health hazards, at BPA expense.
• In-Person Reporting: You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

Qualifications

Basic Requirement: You must possess one of the following:

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering from a program accredited by ABET, or
• A combination of education and experience that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering and a good understanding of engineering sciences and techniques. This may include:
  • Professional registration or licensure as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or Professional Engineer (PE), or
  • Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or equivalent, or
  • At least 60 semester hours of courses in physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences, including those specified in the basic requirements, or
  • A bachelor’s degree in an appropriate scientific field (e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology) with at least one year of professional engineering experience under supervision.

Specialized Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 level in the Federal service, including:

• Applying advanced electrical engineering principles to analyze complex power system protection and control (SPC) schemes, develop protective relay settings, and resolve system protection issues on a high-voltage transmission system.
• Contributing to a comprehensive protective relay program by developing or recommending technical standards, creating setting templates, and evaluating system protection performance to ensure compliance with industry reliability standards.
• Developing and providing technical training or guidance on protective relaying theory, applications, and maintenance to engineers or technical staff.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other community-based organizations.

Education

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. You must provide copies of your college transcripts from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Failure to provide transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible."