Substation Operator Trainee I

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.

These positions are located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), within the Transmission Field Services (TF) at multiple substation locations.

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

External Application Link(s): 

25-BPA-47466-12795341-DE: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/846159300

25-BPA-47466-12795340-MP: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/846158400

Open & Close date:    Open: 09/16/2025   Close: 09/25/2025

LOCATION(s)   Goshen, OR - Keizer, OR- Malin, OR - Redmond, OR - The Dalles, OR- Umatilla, OR-Grand Coulee, WA- Richland, WA - Snohomish, WA- Spokane, WA- Vancouver, WA

SALARY:    $ 61.60 - $61.60 per hour

Role Description

This is a full-time role for a Substation Operator Trainee I.

As a Substation Operator Trainee I, you will:

• Under direct on-site supervision of a Journeyman operates high voltage electrical equipment in electrical power transmission system substations and on transmission lines.
• Expected to gain knowledge of the various work processes, high voltage power system equipment, associated protective relays, and become proficient in the use of proper terminology.
• Perform switching under the direct on-site supervision and guidance of a Chief Substation Operator or journeyman Substation Operator.
• Assignments will be made with various other BPA groups and functions to learn their working processes and equipment.
• These assignment areas are, but not limited to, the following:

System Dispatching

Substation Electrical Maintenance

Power Generating Facility

Transmission Line Maintenance

Test and Energization/Construction

System Protection and Control Maintenance

Power System Control Maintenance

The Substation Operator Trainee program is a formal, 20-month program consisting of five, 4-month steps (training periods 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). The Trainee must pass oral and written reviews at the end of each step to remain in this program. Trainees will be promoted to journeyman after successfully passing the fifth step review and meeting all other requirements of the position. In addition to satisfactorily completing the on-the-job training portion of the program, the Trainee is required to complete all assigned lessons associated with periodic classroom instruction sessions and assigned coursework (correspondence, on-line, etc.) during each step of the training program.

Substation Operator Trainee positions require that you sign a "Continuation of Service Agreement", prior to entry on duty. The agreement will obligate you to remain with BPA for a period of one (1) year upon completion of the training program. If you fail to complete the required period of service with BPA, you will be liable (indebted), in most cases, to BPA for the cost of the training received. Specific information regarding the Continuation of Service Agreement will be provided to selected applicants in future correspondence. Of course, we are hopeful that you would remain with BPA for your entire career, as nearly all of BPA's employees have chosen to do so.

REQUIREMENTS: Conditions of Employment

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 requires a valid driver's license as a condition of employment.
• 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.
• This position requires a preemployment medical exam, at BPA expense, prior to appointment due to the physical requirements of the position.
• After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.
• Persons filling Substation Operator Trainee positions are required to meet some or all of the following conditions: Satisfactory completion of all aspects of each step including the correspondence course and classroom instruction is mandatory for advancement to the next step. Failure to demonstrate satisfactory progress will result in removal from the Trainee program.
• Work in close proximity to substances, such as acids, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, asbestos, mercury, and solvents, etc., which may have affects on health unless prescribed handling procedures are followed. If exposed to health hazards or for use of personal protective equipment (PPE), have periodic physical examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense.
• Become knowledgeable with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual (APM) and applicable safety guidelines and policies.
• Establish a residence in accordance with negotiated requirements, that is within one hour (90 minutes for the Grand Coulee, Washington duty station) or less commuting time under normal weather and road conditions, to the duty station headquarters.

QUALIFICATIONS:

In order to qualify for this position, your resume must provide sufficient experience and/or education, knowledge, skills, and abilities, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are being considered. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities, as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position. Applicants must meet the requirements of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Job Qualification System for Trades and Labor Occupations (X-118C).

Although a specific length of time and experience is not required for most trade and labor occupations, you must show through experience and training that you possess the quality level of knowledge and skill necessary to perform the duties of the position at the level for which you are applying. Qualification requirements emphasis is on the quality of experience, not necessarily the length of time.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the job elements and screen out listed below. Your resume should demonstrate that you possess these elements and screen out. Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your resume how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the elements and screen out identified below. This job has a screen-out factors which will be used to determine minimum eligibility for this job. Applicants who do not receive a minimum of two points on this screen-out element(s) or who do not score at least half of the total points possible across all elements will be found ineligible.

(See Qualification Section for the all requirements)

Working Conditions:

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors under all prevailing weather conditions, during the day or night. Work is also performed on uneven, outdoor surfaces, including steep inclines, on rocked or graveled surfaces and unimproved surfaces. Hazards include working around high voltage equipment and machinery with moving parts. The possibility of explosion or fire is ever present. The Substation Operator Trainee may work from ladders, platforms, or scaffolding averaging 4 feet, or stairs. The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels and/or exposure to hazardous substances (such as acids, PCB's, pesticides, asbestos, mercury, solvents, etc.) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk. Personal protective equipment including respirators shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled. Emergencies, critical system conditions, or outage limitations may require that work be done at night and/or under time constraints. System priorities may require extended periods of overtime, including working weekends and/or holidays.

Physical effort:

Incumbents must be physically and mentally able to efficiently perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others.

• Operates energized high voltage electrical power transmission system substations following strict procedures and safety requirements.
• Checks and reviews station conditions. Responsible for station security and safety of others in the station.
• Performs inspections on all high and low voltage equipment in substations and keeps records. Periodically inspects station, including all components in the switchyard, outlying buildings, and the perimeter of the property.
• Monitors and operates various communications systems. All processes require clear oral communication.
• Completes associated documentation required of the above listed tasks.
• Drives 15-20% of the time in all weather conditions.

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).