This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in Communications and Control Planning (TPMC), Transmission Communications and Grid Modeling (TPM), Transmission Planning and Asset Management (TP), Transmission Services (T), As a senior expert, you will design long-range plans for crucial fiber and microwave communication networks.
You'll lead technical teams, guide regional grid safety standards, and translate complex engineering needs into clear business cases.
Powering the Pacific Northwest: Shape the Future of Grid Communications At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), we power lives and drive the economy of the Pacific Northwest. Our high-voltage transmission grid is the backbone of the region's clean energy, and it relies on a sophisticated, highly secure communications network to run safely and reliably. We are seeking a senior-level Electronics Engineer to serve as a principal strategist and technical expert.
In this role, you won't just maintain existing systems-you will design, expand, and safeguard the critical telecommunications infrastructure (including advanced fiber optic and microwave radio networks) that keeps our power grid smart, responsive, and secure. Here are the key opportunities and duties where you will make a lasting impact: Lead Long-Range Telecom Strategy - Conduct visionary, long-range studies of our sprawling regional communications system.
You will evaluate the capacity of our radio and fiber networks, identifying where to expand, upgrade, and secure funding to keep BPA at the cutting edge of utility communications. Design Next-Generation Communication Systems - Create comprehensive blueprints and functional blueprints for next-generation microwave systems, fiber optic network upgrades, and advanced mobile radio technologies that directly support regional grid operations and customer energy connections.
Serve as the Principal Technical Advisor - Act as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert on complex transmission and communication planning. You will provide authoritative advice to internal engineering groups, external utility partners, and BPA's executive leadership. Champion Industry Policies and Standards - Represent BPA on influential national and regional committees.
You will help write, interpret, and update industry policies and compliance standards that govern how modern, large-scale utility communication networks operate safely. Negotiate High-Impact Utility Agreements - Formulate and negotiate critical business and technical agreements with other major utilities and commercial partners. This includes drafting agreements for shared network usage, leased fiber-optic capacity, and regional system interconnections.
Resolve Complex Technical Challenges - Dive deep into unique, unprecedented engineering obstacles. You will perform system requirement analyses, resolve complex technical discrepancies between organizations, and evaluate the feasibility of innovative communication solutions. Secure Project Funding and Build Business Cases - Translate technical engineering concepts into compelling, high-level business cases for executive leadership.
Your expertise will secure the necessary funding and resources to bring major capital infrastructure projects to life. Mentor the Next Generation of Engineers - Share your mastery and passion for engineering by mentoring junior staff, coaching student interns, and developing instructional guides to pass on critical knowledge and sustain a high-performing team.
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".
bmfallsdown@bpa.gov · 503-230-0000
This position is with Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy.
The posted pay range is $130328 – $157607/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-13.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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