Summary All hourly jobs are considered as open for bid on a continuous basis. Any BPA employee on a competitive career or career-conditional appointment may, at any time, submit an application for permanent promotions, reassignments, or change of duty stations. In order to assure all interested employees are considered, candidates are solicited annually through a Continuous Vacancy Announcement - Hourly Jobs (Bid List) identifying those jobs and duty locations, for which they wish to be considered. Responsibilities As a Welder, you will: From drawings and verbal instructions, fabricates, assembles and repairs all types of bus fittings from copper or aluminum. From work sheets or drawings, fabricates and pre-stresses all types of bus, consisting of copper or aluminum. Erects copper or aluminum bus in switchyards. From drawings and verbal instructions, fabricates and installs at proper elevations, oil lines on transformers and breakers. Performs all types of general welding on shop fabrications, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and chromium structures, trucks, dozers, cranes, booms, shovel buckets, etc. Selects proper electrode alloys for the type of metal to be worked. Uses electric and diesel generator welding machines, including heliarc, mig, and stick process. Silver solder, plasma, and oxy-fuel cutting, carbon arc gouging. Uses various heavy machine tools as required, such as power saws, cut off saws, CNC guided plasma & oxy/fuel cutting machine, drill press, pipe bending machine, etc. From written or oral instructions, blueprints or sketches, the Welder plans own work, makes templates when necessary, and selects methods, materials and machines appropriate for the project. Requirements Conditions of Employment Position is subject to initial pre-employment Drug Testing and random drug testing thereafter. This position requires a pre-employment 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. 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. Apprentices in the last year of the program are encouraged to submit an application to indicate duty locations for which they want to be considered for permanent placement. Possess a BPA Welder Certificate. Possess and maintain a U.S. Motor Vehicle Operator Authorization a good driving record and a valid Class B commercial driver's license (CDL) from state of residence Additional endorsements on valid driver's license may be required to operate assigned vehicles in compliance with state regulations. Traffic citations indicating poor driving habits may disqualify applicants. Operate motor vehicles including sedans, pick-up trucks, 4 x 4s, vans, flatbed trucks, forklifts and/or aerial manlifts. 100% travel to field sites may be required. Drive 20% of time in all weather conditions. Subject to call for emergency work outside normal duty hours. Be able to wear protective apparel such as respirators, welder safety equipment, steel toe boots and hard hats for worker safety. Have periodic examinations as prescribed by competent medical authority at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards. Become familiar with and follow the safety practices of the BPA Accident Prevention Manual. Obtain and maintain a valid non-electrical worker's permit within 30 days of hire. Obtain and maintain authorized unescorted access to BPA energized and non-energized facilities. Possess and maintain a valid First Aid Card. Take First Aid refresher training. Be certified on aerial lift equipment or other equipment when assigned to use or operate within 90 days of appointment. 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. 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) will be found ineligible. The screen-out element for this position is: Ability to successfully perform the work of a Welder defined as safely performing the majority of the following welding duties: use templates, blueprints and other guides to repair, modify or fabricate metal items and weld metal parts and structures, weld in positions to include flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead; use various heavy machine tools, such as power saws, cut off saws, CNC guided plasma & oxy/fuel cutting machine, drill press, and pipe bending machines without more then normal supervision. Failure to meet this Screen out Element will result in an ineligible rating. In addition to the screen-out element you will be evaluated on the following Job Elements through your resume and responses to the on-line assessment questionnaire: Ability To Do The Work Of The Position Without More Than Normal Supervision Ability To Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (includes blueprint reading) Ability To Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Dexterity and Safety Knowledge of Metals Technical Practices (theoretical, precise, artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments If your knowledge and ability in the SCREEN OUT factor above is not sufficient, you will receive no further consideration. In preparing your application, describe in detail the experience and training which you have had that specifically prepared you for this job and to perform the duties described for this job. Experience should be clearly described and documented in your resume. The qualifications reviewer will not assume performance of such duties by Job Titles alone. WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed in the General Shops at the Ross Complex and at field sites. Work may be both indoors and outdoors anywhere in the BPA system, according to the type of work being performed. Work at considerable height and on precarious footing during inclement weather. Hazards include working around energized, high voltage electrical equipment; climbing on ladders or scaffolding; working around machinery with moving parts; exposure to fumes, smoke, gases, and falling objects. The Welder may be required to work at heights up to 150 feet from aerial ladders and boom truck baskets with safety harness. The work environment will occasionally include high noise levels or exposure to hazardous materials (i.e., acids, solvents, PCB's, etc.) requiring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) that could, if precautions are not followed, pose a health risk. Approved respiratory and safety equipment shall be worn when hazardous substances are being handled (oil, acid, etc.) or when welding. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education There is no substitution of education for experience for Federal Wage Grade (WG) positions. Additional Information The U.S. Department of Energy fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation. EEO Policy: http://www.usajobs.gov/eeo Reasonable Accommodation Policy: http://www.usajobs.gov/raps BPA strives to ensure a safe, positive, inclusive work environment, supported by Leadership Behaviors. For more information on Leadership Behaviors visit: www.bpa.gov/goto/LeadershipBehaviors Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.