This position is located with Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), in the Transmission Field Services (TF) organization within the Transmission Services (T) business line. A successful candidate in the Power System Control Craftsman Trainee 5 position is a journey level communication technician who trains under the direct supervision of Power System Control (PSC) Craftsmen or PSC Engineers.
After successful completion of the 3-year training program the trainee will be promoted to a performance level of Craftsman I, with a full performance level of craftsman II. Can be accelerated through the program. $81.97 Craftsman I $85.25 Craftsman II The Power System Control Craftsman Training program is a formal 3-year program consisting of six steps of 6 months each starting at step 5 and ending at step 10.
After successful completion of each step, promotion to the next step includes a pay increase. Current (2026) hourly rates: $73.86 Step 6 $75.31 Step 7 $76.75 Step 8 $78.20 Step 9 $79.65 Step 10 As a Power System Control Craftsman Trainee 5 you will: The Power System Control Craftsman Trainee performs preventive and corrective maintenance on power system control equipment.
Additionally, there may be circumstances due to district staffing, the trainee may be expected to perform emergency maintenance on power system control equipment. Power system control equipment includes the following: AM and FM radios with frequencies up to 900 mHz. These consist of fixed, mobile, and portable stations used for voice communications, control, and telemetering circuits.
High Density Transport Systems including SONET, STM, Ethernet Transport Systems and associated end equipment. System-interconnected networks including various manufacturer's routers, switches and Terminal Servers. Digital and analog microwave radio equipment operating at frequencies above 900 MHz with high density channel loading capability.
High density microwave multiplex equipment which includes the frequency generation equipment, add/drop multiplexors, associated synchronization equipment, telephone termination equipment and dial selectors, and all service channel or order wire equipment.
Control and data equipment which includes SCADA, microwave alarm reporting systems, hydromet stations, ILDSS, digital/analog telemetering systems, central time system, transfer trip (used for line protection and remedial action schemes), data circuits and general purpose modems. Power line carrier current equipment using AM, SSB, FM, and FSK modulation for the transmission of voice communications, power line relaying signals, telemetering, and supervisory control.
Miscellaneous equipment which includes auxiliary power equipment (engine generator controls, batteries and battery chargers, inverters, and UPS systems), power line fault locators (both portable and fixed), telephone switching equipment, PA systems, closed circuit television systems, fiber optics, and electronic test equipment.
Under supervision by the District supervisor or supervising engineer, as necessary, performs the more difficult and nonroutine types of maintenance work on the above equipment. The trainee may also make previously approved field modifications on equipment, and perform subsequent tests for work involving unusual problems.
Assists in performing initial energization tests of new installations and obtains data which will permit the supervising engineer to make an engineering evaluation of the equipment performance in terms of the contract specifications. Installs certain types of equipment under general supervision after the procedures have been previously established. A typical job is the installation of mobile radios.
Assists in measuring and determining locations of radio and audible noise and power line interference and advises the supervising engineer of the source of the interference so that corrective action may be initiated.
In connection with the above various types of work, prepares reports which in general are a collection of test data, instrument readings, and other pertinent information which can be used by the supervising engineer to make an engineering determination on the equipment operations. Performs miscellaneous duties related to the maintenance of the communication system.
There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position.
sxyoung@bpa.gov · 503-230-4018
This position is with Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy.
The posted pay range is $72.41 – $72.41/hr.
Applications close on 2026-11-01.
There are 9 openings for this position.
This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government · Retrieved 2026-10-24 · Not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.gov
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