Physical Scientist

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is a federal nonprofit wholesale power marketer that delivers electricity from 31 federal dams and one nuclear plant to millions of consumers and businesses across eight states. BPA operates three-quarters of the region’s high-voltage transmission grid and funds one of the largest fish and wildlife programs globally.

This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), within the Duty Scheduling (PGSD), Schedule Planning (PGS), Generation Asset Management (PG), a division of the Power Services.

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application.

External Application Link(s): 

25-BPA-47883-12801855-DE: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/846847800

25-BPA-47883-12801854-MP: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/846847600

Open & Close date:    Open: 09/29/2025   Close: 10/08/2025

LOCATION(s)   Portland, OR

SALARY:    $ 53,831 - $85,598 per year

Role Description

This is a full-time role for a Physical Scientist.

As a Physical Scientist, you will:

• Meet generation reliability and Biological Opinion objectives, as well as ensuring the multipurpose use of the river.
• In a developmental capacity, control reservoir operations, including coordinating plant operations and maintenance with the Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and other agencies and organizations to meet both power and non-power requirements.
• Assist in developing operational strategies that continue past the current shift and ensuring that the strategies are effectively briefed and passed on to the subsequent shift.
• Apply scientific principles for operational implementation of new and/or anticipated fishery programs, hydraulic constraints and objectives, transmission limitations, scheduling and operating procedures, contracts, etc.
• Represent the interests of Generation Supply in operational situations encountered during shift assignments.
• Collaborate and then negotiate for the resolution of after-the-fact operational discrepancies or disagreements with utilities.

REQUIREMENTS:

In accordance with Executive Order 14170, applicants are encouraged to respond to four short, free-response, essay questions in the questionnaire. Answer to these questions is not scored or rated. Your answers will be reviewed by the hiring manager and agency leadership if you are referred for selection consideration

When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.

Key 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.

Conditions of Employment:

• This position has been designated as requiring a PUBLIC TRUST background. A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
• Shift Work - The amount of shift work may vary
• Employees rotate through three established work shifts that provide coverage 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
• Emergency travel may be required.
• This position requires a 4 year degree in science, math, and or engineering and additional technical training or experience in order to complete independent analytical work.
• Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

BASIC REQUIREMENT:

1. Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. -OR-

2. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

GS-7: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [GS-5] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience performing 1) analytical work, 2) conducting model simulations, and 3) applying principles, theories, practices, and techniques in the physical sciences.

You may substitute education for specialized experience at the GS-7 level as follows: 1 year of graduate-level education or superior academic achievement -or- 1 year equivalent to at least GS-5.

If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.

GS-9: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level [GS-7 ] in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as experience 1) assisting with scientific studies that involve methods and techniques in interpreting findings of scientific significance, and 2) performing computer model simulation applying scientific principles for the implementation of river and reservoir operations.

You may substitute education for specialized experience at the GS-9 level as follows: 2 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree -or- 1 year equivalent to at least GS-7. If substituting education for specialized experience you must submit proof of your qualifying education. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to place you into an initial quality category via OPM's Category Rating procedures. These categories are "Best Qualified", "Well Qualified", and "Qualified.

Minimum Qualifications: Once the application process is complete, the Human Resources Offices or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will review the first two pages of your 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', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics):

• Attention to Detail
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Learning
• Reading Comprehension

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement

Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility.

(See Qualification Section for the all requirements)

EDUCATION:  

This vacancy has a positive education requirement. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Department of Education Accreditation Search to verify school accreditation.

Foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.DO NOT email or mail in any of your application documents. Documents will not be accepted outside of the online application system.

In order to be rated as qualified, you must provide copies of your college transcripts.

Failure to provide copies of your college transcripts may result in a rating of "Ineligible"

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:  

To apply for this position, you MUST provide a complete application package.

 (See Required Documents section on application).